Growing up I have always been shy, which didn’t lend itself to making large number of friends. Instead I chose to develop a small circle of friends.
I have always envied my sibling’s outgoing personality but it just never came that easy for me. Letting someone new in is never easy for me. So you can imagine how difficult goodbye must be.
But as you know, God never leaves us in our places of comfort for too long. He nudges us and at times gives us a big push in order to produce growth in our lives. That’s what He has been doing for me in the past few months of this year. He’s taken me down new roads meeting new people and encountering new experiences. At times I have trodden along timidly and other times a bit defiantly, kicking, screaming, and pleading that He give me a moment to catch my breath.
Once I have said hello to something new I long to cling to it but I have experienced quite a few exits that caused me to grieve and question why I had to go through the experience. But God in His kindness has been teaching me the true value of goodbye. When I clutch onto to the things in my life that He has chosen to usher out, I keep myself stuck and stunted. It is the farewells of life that makes room for new hellos.
Father help me (and others like me) to embrace what you’re doing now. Teach us how to mourn during the allotted time but not to get stuck there. Lord I thank you for the ability to move forward in You. Thank you that as we walk along life’s journey you are with us! We chose to place our confidence in You and in Your ability to guide us along the right paths for lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
Wow! Wow! Wow! What can I say? When you read my blog today you will understand. God is good; He knows the way that we should take. Goodbyes are difficult, but absolutely necessary. I've been meditating on Romans 5, and what it means to stand in this place of the "undeserved privilege" of His grace:
"…Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love…"
Hi Wanda – its so true what you say that if God wants us to let something go, and we don't, it hurts and harms us, or stunts us. Something to definitely think on with issues I hold on to. Thank you
God bless
Tracy
Beautiful and heartfelt, Wanda. Praying right along with you.
My husband, our children, and I have moved A LOT during our lifetimes. It is always difficult saying Goodbye–not just to the friends we have made but to the familiar and comforting. I always feel like a deer caught in the headlights when we walk into a new church. But God has always been faithful and along with all the scary parts of new places and new people have come new blessings and new friends. If I had been unwilling to let go of the past, I would never have met some of these wonderful people or experienced the thrill of new adventures. So, with God, it is always worth it to step out in faith. Thanks for the reminder Wanda! Have a blessed weekend my friend!
Pam
You know I had to hurry over and read your post Bluebutterfly. And it serves as confirmation to what God has been teaching me. Funny thing is this post has been brewing in my spirit and heart for days but I finally felt the push to release it. I pray that others that stop by will read your post. It bless me and I know others will be blessed as well.
Wanda, your post speaks straight to my heart. I too have a hard time letting go. Thank you for the reminder that "It is the farewells of life that make room for new hellos."
I understand the sister thing. We'd go to the mall and my sister would say, "I hope I see someone we know." I'd say, "I hope we don't see anyone we know." But you're right about the fact that sometimes we need to say good bye to the comfort zone. I'm always blessed when I do.
Blessings,
Pamela
Wonderful Wanda.
Have a good week-end.
Yvonne.
This post spoke straight to my heart and brought tears. You spoke what I hold in my heart and can't release at times. So heartfelt, thank you my friend..Susie
Hi Wanda –
Thank you. I enjoyed this message.
Do you remember the song, "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday?"
That came to mind after I read this.
Yes, Goodbyes can be challenging but as the Spirit of GOD leads, we must follow.
This is an encouraging and hopeful piece, Wanda.
I prayed that prayer with you this morning, Wanda! Thank you for sharing this.
Wanda I so identified with this post today. Thanks for sharing your heart.
I know that God only has our best interest. To fight Him on this only makes matters worse. Blessings to you Wanda.
What a great post…thank you for the reminder to embrace what is happening right now. I needed to hear that today.
joy & blessings,
Alida
Dearest Wanda,
Thank you for sharing lessons from your life journey with the Lord. There is something about your openness that touches me.
Blessings in Christ…Susan
Wanda, this was an amazing post. God has certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone in the last few months, and so I can totally relate to what you're saying.
One of the farewells that I've had to say lately actually happened several years ago – and yet, it's been hard again. That would be letting go of my adult sons. It's been so hard lately watching them work out their own lives, watching them grapple with their own struggles, watching God write their faith stories. Yes, I'm still there for support and advice – but so often I have been unable to help any more than to pray.
But God reassures me that He is moving us all forward, into something better that we would never see if we stayed *stuck* –
Thanks for this word of encouragement today.
GOD BLESS!
I've always said you remind me so much of myself in so many ways. This post is additional evidence of that. I pray the Lord will continue to grace you to embrace the seasons of goodbye so you can welcome the seasons of hello.
It is difficult; I too have moved a lot and know the unsettling feeling of moving onward. Sometimes I welcomed it, but most of the times I resisted~ I love the idea of saying goodbye to welcome hello…so beautiful!~ Great post @>—–
My sister was just saying yesterday that she has a phobia for saying goodbye! So this struck a cord! But we shouldn't be anxious for anything, God is able to be responsible for our lives and He will teach us if we are open. Patsy from
HeARTworks
Wanda,
As I read your post, I was reminded of how God is all about "new". He re-creates us into new creations, and is ever before us doing a "new thing", so that we might sing a "new song". Goodbyes are hard, but your words have encouraged my heart to embrace the new thing God is ever opening before me.
Beautiful words. Thank you, too, for stopping by my blog today and leaving such beautiful words behind.
~Stacy
Wanda, I can so relate! Your last paragraph says it all! Beautiful prayer!
Love you!