Home at Last

I’ve been finding that I don’t really do a good job of noticing when I am in the presence of something bigger than myself until I am face to face with that reality.  How often do I go through life unaware of the work God is doing in those around me?  It isn’t until I slowdown or God directs my attention to his work that I finally see it.

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it."  He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven."  (Genesis 28:16-17)

When we come to these verses we would have just read the account of Jacob’s dream.  Jacob fell asleep on his way to flee Esau and to find a wife in Paden Aram, the land of his mother’s relatives.  In his dream, Jacob sees angels of the Lord ascending and descending a ladder from heaven.  Then God speaks to Jacob and promises him the same thing as his grandfather and father, Abraham and Isaac.  God promises that Jacob will have descendents that are so numerous that can’t even be counted. 

God legit had to take over the subconscious of Jacob for Jacob to notice his presence.  Jacob’s response is not just to move on.  In the verses to follow, Jacob takes the rock he used as a pillow and set it up as a pillar and worshiped God.  He renamed the place Bethel, meaning house of God. 

Recently, my view of Columbus has shifted.  I had been having a hard time seeing God really at work here.  I would catch glimpses, but nothing like what I saw in Springfield.  I started to think that maybe God wasn’t moving as strongly here as there.  Then we had a prayer night at the high school youth group, and my eyes were opened.  As I was praying about what I needed to let go, Springfield was laid on my heart so strongly that I literally started to tear up. 

As soon as I realized that I really needed to be here in Columbus and needed to kinda let Springfield go, God started showing up in conversations.  I started to feel more at peace and grounded that I had the months before.  Even living at home didn’t feel like such a struggle, but rather a blessing.  I didn’t have to worry about rent or groceries and I could use my limited income to go out to coffee with my girl, Andrea, after Impact or I could go out to lunch with some of the High School students on Fridays. 

I started to see how awesome this place is and now I don’t resent being here.  It is wonderful to feel at home in my own home.  Don’t get me wrong, I miss my friends in Springfield something fierce, but I don’t feel so much like a fish out of water.  It is lovely to be able to breathe again.