How do you know when God is calling you to something new?
My husband accepted a call and we are moving to New York.
A Call to Colorado
We moved to Colorado 15 years ago when my husband accepted a call to serve as associate pastor at a church here in the Denver suburbs. When he first received the call, we laughed a little at the thought. We had no interest in a call.
We had just moved into our first home, and we were really happy where we were in Indiana. We loved the people and the ministry.
Yet sometimes God clearly says, “Go”. So, we go.
I remember the first day we were in our new Denver house. I sat on the bare kitchen floor with my two sweet little girls. These two toddler girls were my world. We sat eating Burger King. We had no kitchen utensils, no table or chairs. Mike was at church, busy getting to know what all would be involved in this new ministry job.
The housing market in Colorado was crazy-insane expensive compared to where we had been living in Indiana. (Plus we ended up not selling that Indiana house for almost a year. Thank goodness I didn’t know that yet or I would have just laid down on the floor writhing in sheer agony right then and there. That came later.)
The Denver house we purchased had been a rental, and it needed work. Dear members of our congregation came and helped us patch and paint, but it still needed much. I sat on the bare floor looking around at an empty house with work, work, work in every room. At close to double the cost of our previous house, that hurt — bad.
As my little girls sat munching on fries, I wept.
“Dear God,” I wondered, “what on earth have we done?” I wanted to go back to my big blue old house and my stuff and my friends and my church and thriving Creative Memories business and playgroup and my LIFE.
I was lonely for a good long while here in Colorado, too. People at church were friendly, and I joined Bible studies and groups, but I remember it was at least a year before I found my group of peeps and really got my groove.
God taught me great things in that year. I sure hated it at the time, though.
I did not yet know the storehouse of incredible blessings God had planned for our family in Colorado. We would be filled to overflow during these 15 years:
Our amazing son was born here.
We fostered 35 incredible, sweet, challenging foster children here.
We enjoyed the rewards and challenges of 15 years of ministry here.
We adopted our 2 life-changing, forever-family sons here.
Our daughters have grown into incredible young women we are honored to know and love as people.
Mike’s parents retired and came to live here. Now we wonder how we survived without their care and support.
I lost 100 pounds and overcame my eating addictions here.
Our marriage has weathered storms here, and we have realized we love each other truly and more.
I would find friends who became so dear, I love them as if God planned for us to be sisters. Which in a way, He did.
How do you know when God is calling you to go or to stay?
A month ago, my husband received a call to a church in New York, to a town on the north western side of the state. We laughed a little when we received this call. This is a smaller town and a smaller church, and perhaps not the type of call we would normally consider. (You might notice, this laughter is becoming a dangerous trend with us.)
How do you know when God is calling you to go or to stay? It’s beyond human understanding. Just a few weeks before, Mike had a call from another church, this one in Delaware, and both of us flew out for a visit.
We loved this Delaware church.
We stayed right by the ocean. If the church members were trying to bribe us into loving their church, that worked. We felt an immediate connection with the people. This group is doing incredibly social ministry. The worship and music spoke to us.
Yet when the time came, Mike knew God was holding back His hand. God has a different man in mind to shepherd this congregation. We felt sad to say no to this call.
A Call to New York
When Mike received the call to the church in New York, it came as a total surprise. He had interviewed with this church on the phone, but did not expect the process to go further.
Mike texted me on a Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago to tell me he had received the call to the church in New York. We didn’t know they were having a call meeting or even considering him as a final candidate.
He considered saying no to this call without visiting. From the interview, it didn’t seem like a good fit for us. Our church in Colorado has been through a lot change recently, and Mike had just turned down the Delaware call a couple weeks ago.
Yet a call is to be taken seriously, so he would give it consideration. When the call papers came, Mike told me, “There’s some intriguing stuff in here.”
Mike flew out for a visit, by himself this time. I would have loved to visit, too, but mom duties kept me at home.
God clearly said, GO. So, we are going.
There’s so much I could tell you about this call, like details about the church and the town and the people. I could tell you about the thriving Lutheran school, their eagerness for a new pastor, and the loving congregation.
I could tell you about the big changes in store for our family with moving to a smaller town and a (maybe a bit?) quieter way of life.
But it’s really not a comparison. It’s not that the church we are leaving is worse and this one is better. We have cherished our years of ministry here, and I know we will experience many joys and challenges in ministry there.
Sometimes God says go, and you go.
Sometimes it makes sense in an earthly way, and sometimes it makes no sense whatsoever.
Some people will understand and be supportive, and some won’t. You go anyway.
No Plans for the Planner
I am a planner. I love my calendars and to-do lists. When the time comes, I’ll have the details of this move charted and organized. (In true Borgstede fashion, this move is gonna be a bit messy. We’ll be moving the family in stages.)
But for now, there are no lists or plans. I have no clue what waits for us in New York. I haven’t seen it. I haven’t met anyone there. We don’t have a house or schools chosen, or doctors or therapy programs.
Believe it or not, I’m incredibly okay with this.
I’m not the same girl who sat crying on the empty kitchen floor of our Denver house. God has molded and grown me up during our Denver years.
I’ve been through joyous moments so phenomenal, I feel almost unworthy to speak of those days. I have been given gifts of such honor, I will never be able to repay these blessings. I know I cannot try, but it brings me to tears of thankfulness when I consider these treasured memories.
I’ve been to the depths of awful, searing pain. Our family as walked through valleys of grief so wretched, I thought the blackness would swallow me whole. Some moments, I wondered if it would be better if it did. A thousand times I begged God for some other way out of those situations. This is where I turned and found His grace sufficient.
Our modern day world tells you that in order to have a successful move, you need the nicer, fancier, step-up-in-the-world location.
Is your next job a better one? Are you moving to a bigger house? A nicer suburb? Are the schools better?
What if you ask a different question instead?
Look at the story of Abram in Genesis 12. God said go, and when you get moving, I’ll tell you what to do next.
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you…So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.
Genesis 12:1,4a
There’s only one question that matters:
Is this where God is calling you to go?
If the answer is yes, may God be with you as you travel.
Sara Recommends
After the Boxes Are UnPacked — book
Moving with Kids — book
Moving Stretch Wrap –highly recommend!
1-800-Got Junk — removal company, highly recommend
We are very excited to be welcoming your family soon! Two of our children currently attend the school and our oldest graduated last year! We also attend the church regularly. We pray that God blesses you on your journey across the country and on your new life journey here in NY!
Thanks so much, Jackie! We are excited to get started!
Hi Sara
I am from St. John Lutheran Church that you are coming to. We are all excited and can’t wait until you and your family arrive. We are eager to help you move in and get adjusted. Your website if very inspiring and I would like to talk with you when you arrive and get settled. Are school is excellent and your children will enjoy it, if you chose to go there. We have an excellent rating for doctors and therapy programs here. I’m sure you will make friends easily, just from reading your posts. I for one like meeting new people and making new friends. There are plenty of things to do in the area. You are only 8 minutes from Niagara Falls. It is very majestic. There is Fort Niagara and they have reenactments at the fort. We have a zoo, a small aquarium, theaters, golf courses, etc. We are only 2 hours from Toronto and 10 minutes to see the Falls from the Canadian side. I hope this puts you at ease a little. Trying to help with some information about the area. Email me if you like. Hope you are coming soon!
Hi Sharon, Thanks so much for your warm welcome! We are excited to be coming and I can’t wait to meet you in person. Let’s plan to get together for coffee or unpacking or something soon after I arrive. 🙂
So exciting! I wish you to have a smooth move and to enjoy your life in NYC. I used to live there but now I moved to London where I work as a teacher. I guess that this was my faith! Thanks for sharing!
London! That is definitely following God’s lead! Good for you. Do you enjoy living there?
That’s so interesting. I currently live in London and feel led to teach in NYC! Seems like an impossible task at the moment though.
Would you mind sharing your testimony on how you came to move?
Sara,
I am the secretary in NY and really enjoyed meeting your husband during his visit. Our congregation is very excited to have your family join ours! Looking forward to meeting you all!
Terrie
Thanks for the comment, Terrie. I can’t wait to get to know you in person. We are excited to come and be a part of ministry there! I’ve heard lots of great things already.
Can’t wait for the unfolding story. You have been such an inspiration to me. You can stop at the farm in Iowa and say “hello” on your way East lol
Carolyn, If it’s on the route, I just might take you up on that! I’m a people person and always up for meeting new friends! 🙂
Thank you Sharon! I will of course keep you updated here and on Facebook. 🙂
Loved reading another of your inspirational experiences! Thanks so much for sharing yourself and your family! May God Bless you all in your new adventure! Wishing you all the best!!! P.S. Can’t wait to hear all the exciting details to follow!
Thanks so much for your support. I will for sure keep you posted. I’ll be writing on my blog and on Facebook, too.
Amazing. Such a testament of your faith and the growth you’ve experienced in your life. I love the peace you are experiencing even though many of us would be freaking out fright now. Praying God’s amazing blessing over you and your family. May His path be filled with a powerful new journey ahead!
Thank you, Christine! I appreciate your friendship and support. You are a blessing.
Oh, Sara, how very exciting and scary at the same time. I have learned that when God is orchestrating your steps, you just have another sense to recognize that and then you step back and are amazed to watch our glorious Lord at work. You are definitely blessed to be a blessing, which I’m sure you will continue to be and know blessings will abound back to you and yours as well. Praying that this will be a smooth transition and before long you will find yourself settled into a new routine in a new location. Also, that God will give you His peace, patience and discernment as you and your family follow Him where He leads. Blessings and hugs.
Joyce, thanks so much for your ongoing prayers and support. Thanks especially for your prayers for peace and discernment. Much needed and appreciated! xoxo
I enjoyed reading your story, thank you for sharing….I believe my children attend the school connected to the church you are coming too, if so….welcome 🙂
Robin, Yeah! Thank you for the warm welcome! I can’t wait to meet in person. How old are your children?
It’s always wonderful to read of a change in one’s life especially when God is leading you into a new area with many blessings behind you but oh so many new ones ahead!! I too have been at the end of moving my family to answer the call of God in a new direction and as a pastor’s wife for those years I can tell you it wasn’t always easy. It is always inspiring to read such positive things as you write for others!! It is so nice to be able to know you are not alone in your journey although at times it does seem like such a lonely job! God has great things in store for you and your family. I am certain you will be a HUGE blessing to others as you are now!! God be with you as you move and settle in to a new challenge and may he bless you with many good and loving friends who will be as close as a brother (sister)! Thanks for sharing so much of your struggles and your victories!! Its so encouraging to me as I have been through the fires too! I can relate.
Theresa thanks for writing. It’s really encouraging to hear from someone who has walked a similar path. You know how it is, my friend in Jesus! xoxoxo It’s really hard to say goodbye to people here we love so much, but we look forward with excitement too. Ministry is such a challenge and blessing.
Ooh!! I really would love to know more about where in NY you’re heading….as that’s where I am!! And from your little arrow, it could be my neck of the woods! (Then again, maybe not. Ha Ha.)
You are so brave and your faith and trust is wonderful. I talk about moving a lot (bc I want to, not because I’m necessarily feeling ‘led’ to) and I have real fear about moving, not knowing anyone, the area, etc. Even living where I do now with an amazing community, I still don’t feel connected to many people (& I’ve been here several years) and wonder what I’m doing wrong. Can’t wait to read more about your journey!
Rachel, send me an email, sara@saraborgstede.com! We will chat more.
I really enjoyed reading your story. Good luck with your transitioning to New York!
Thank you, Jill! I loved that we have stayed in touch all these years! xoxo
We welcome you to the east coast! This is incredibly exciting! There isn’t anything better than knowing He says “Go!” Blessings and of course keep us posted!
I will for sure keep you posted!