It is Well

So here I sit next to Dave on the couch as he rocks a keg of beer. That’s right ladies and gents: my husband is rocking the first of two kegs of homebrew like a baby so the carbonation is just right. Today is shaping up to be a good day—even if it is THE day.

Yesterday morning, as we lay in bed chatting before our teenager invaded our bed for a chat of his own, we talked about how something magical had happened over the last 24 hours. We both felt at peace. Neither of us was excessively anxious about the next 48 hours and what was to come. Our marriage is in a great place, our kids are in a good place and we are going to not only survive this deployment, but I plan to make it my bitch.

 But I still felt like something was askew.

On our way to Norfolk yesterday afternoon we passed the lime green “Forefront Church” sign and Dave said, “Church tomorrow?” In my mind I was thinking. Yes, please. We have 27 hours left and lets spend one of them in a church that isn’t home. But it would be his last day in town and if he needed a little Jesus in his life before his deployment, I would oblige.  Sure babe, lets go to church tomorrow.  

So Dave and I visited today for the second time. There wasn’t anything wrong the first time, but it wasn’t right either. The first time we visited ELC I knew it was home (except when Derek would tell me to raise my hands to worship God—I mean only crazy people do that, right?). I didn't get the same feeling from Forefront the first time we visited, but now I know why.  

Dave and I were blessed to attend both ELC campuses last month and in reflection, I have realized a few things:

For starters, ELC was life changing for our family and I don't think anything will come close to being the ‘everything’ ELC was to us. I had to accept that to be ready to move on.

The percentage of people I actually KNEW at either ELC service has significantly dropped compared to what it was a year ago. I felt like a visitor, kinda like it was no longer my home. Once I made that discovery, it made it okay for me to be a visitor at Forefront and to open my heart to making another church home.

While at the campuses, we shared that we were still struggling to find a home church and were worried that we wouldn't find it prior to Dave leaving. People offered to pray for us...and it worked.

Forefront was ON POINT today. Pastor Jason spoke about having stagnant faith and dwindling faith once the “newness” of being a Christian wears off. Once you lose that being “on fire for Jesus” feeling. I realized very quickly he was speaking to me. Not only had I become stagnant in my faith, it had probably been dwindling for quite some time.  He even made reference to turning away from God in times of need instead of investing yourself more into His word, your time with Him and your walk with Him. This is exactly what I have done for the last 9 months.

At the end of service as the worship team sang, “It is well. It is well with my soul!”, my eyes got a little misty. I put my hand on Dave’s back and prayed over him again. In that moment, I realized God was telling me, “It is well. You are well. This place is well and you should be here.”

After service, I went to the Get Connected table (which has been a very scary thought for me on our church hunt) and got plugged in. I met the new ‘Stacy’ (who also happens to be the new ‘Tristen’) and found out she lives in my neighborhood and leads a women’s group on Tuesday night. Some of you realize what big, big shoes she has to fill.

And with that, my husband has finished his last minute packing and I am going to enjoy a few more hours with him before I drop him off at his temporary home later this evening. But no matter what tomorrow brings, I know that it is well with my soul.