Today’s Bread ~ Homesick

Philippians 3:20 – But we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.  And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.

Growing up, I always envisioned myself having a large family.  I am the oldest of three girls, and for the most part, our family was a rather self-contained, nomadic unit.  We moved about every three years, and lived by family only twice: in New Town Square, Pennsylvania, and Denver, Colorado.  I do have cousins, but they are approximately a decade older on one side of the family, a decade younger on the other. 

Now that my sisters and I are married with children, we are blessed with young’uns in abundance, although only two are mine.  Caitlyn and Nick have 9 cousins – most close in age.  Five of them live in Kansas City, so several times a year, the kids and I load up the SUV and make the 8 hour trip north for the rowdy, raucous family reunions I’d always dreamed of.

Yesterday, as I drove down I 35 south across the Oklahoma/Texas border, I pondered those trips, and the relief I always felt crossing back into the Lone Star State.

I love my sisters and their husbands.  I adore my nieces and nephews.  I eagerly anticipate the visits and usually tear up as I drive away, waving good-bye.  But Kansas is not my home.  I don’t belong there.  I’m not plugged in there.  I’m like a puzzle piece that somehow wandered into the wrong puzzle.

When travel, I pack light: One outfit per day, maybe two pairs of shoes, my travel toiletries and a few other things.  As a guest at someone else’s house, neither my pillow nor my coffee is ever quite right.  I’m on someone else’s agenda, following someone else’s rules.  When we go to parties or gatherings, I enjoy the company, but miss the familiarity of my own friends.  I don’t shy away from new situations; they’re simply out of my comfort zone.

Yesterday, while driving, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to my heart.  You’re not supposed to be fully comfortable there.  I didn’t call you to Kansas.  I called you to Texas. 

Romans 8:23 – And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering.  We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as His children, including the new bodies He has promised us.

You don’t have to watch the news for very long to know we live in a broken, beat-up world:  Almost a hundred innocent lives taken in Norway a few days ago; an economy that appears to be teetering on the brink of collapse; a political system that is systematically removing God from everything but the church.  Immorality celebrated and morality scorned.  This world, at this time, is a very uncomfortable place.

Again, I hear the Holy Spirit’s words: You’re not supposed to be comfortable here.  I didn’t make you for this place.  I made you for more.  You are a citizen of Heaven, and your place is by my side.

Once upon a time my greatest prayer was that God would ease the suffering of the world.  Now I find myself praying that He would empower me to do it.  Once upon a time I prayed fervently that He would deliver me and my loved ones from our undesirable circumstances.  Now I pray that He would strengthen and sustain us through them, that we might suffer well and bring glory to His Son.  I do still pray for the miracle every now and then; that God would flex and bring about instantaneous change.  But my greater prayer is that He would give us a Heavenly perspective; that we might grow in wisdom, compassion, knowledge and strength.  So we might understand that, as uncomfortable as this life can be, it is but a breath in the grand scheme of eternity.

God made us to live in harmony with Him.  When sin entered the world, that relationship was forever fractured.  Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, the only source of lasting peace and fullness of joy.  Without Him, we will never be satisfied for long or completely comfortable where we are.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long.  Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!  So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen.  For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

Dear God, thank You so much for our salvation.  You tell us in John 5 that those who listen to Your message and believe in Your Son have already passed from death to life; that we’ve already received eternal life and salvation.  Please help us live like it.  God, without taking anything away from our suffering and discomfort, because for some of us, it is great, please help us to see it for what it really is: temporary.  Please give us a heavenly perspective that reminds us that, no matter what we or our loved ones are going through right now, the glory that is coming is immeasurable and eternal.  God, how we love You.  How we worship You.  How we praise You.  Please draw us closer and closer to You, until we are fully operating in Your Holy Spirit – less us, more You.  We ask that You give us wisdom, knowledge and discernment to know Your will.  We ask for understanding, and a glimpse of Your divine plan.  We ask that You would bless us to be a blessing to others.  We love You so much, God.  Help us to love You more.  Help us to trust You more.  We thank You for Your Son.  It is in the beautiful, magnificent name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, that we pray.  Amen.