2005. The time had arrived. Matt, our youngest, was heading off to college. We packed, bought last minute items, and boxed things he couldn't live without. When asked if he was ready for his first year away from home, Matt would reply, "Absolutely!" and that he wished he could have left a few weeks earlier. But I was sure he was torn up inside.
Once in college town, we lugged the boxes to his dorm. Beverly made his bed while I set up the computer. Then we got some lunch, made a run to WalMart, returned to the dorm, and met Matt's roommate and his family. Oh sure, Matt looked like he was happy and thrilled, but I was sure he was only pretending. Then he looked at us and asked, "Aren't you going to leave?"
It was at that precise moment I realized exactly who was being kicked out of the nest.
For years I'd heard about the empty nest syndrome. Friends said, "Chase and Mallory have already gone. They'll probably never live at home again. And now Matt will leave and you'll be all alone. Empty house, no kids. Just you and Beverly...we'll pray for Beverly." (I've got to get new friends.)
This empty nest thing is interesting. I always thought the nest was my house and I'd be "encouraging" my children to spread their wings and fly. But I was wrong. The nest wasn't the house at all. It was the comfort zone I'd carefully built twig by twig. That place where all was safe and peaceful. With no changes or unexpected events. (Did I mention it's an imaginary place?)
After Matt kicked me out of my nest, I discovered such comfort zones are not all that comforting. They're quite confining. Instead of safe havens, they become prisons that prevent us from experiencing the freedom of God. Matt had new freedom...but so did I. A fellow empty nester put it, "To have my last child leave the nest was an emotional time, but I looked forward to what God had planned for me next."
I'm great at planning. You should hear all the wonderful ideas I have for God. But there's a problem with that. In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
God wants us to plan, but He is the One who tells us what to do, how to do it, and when. We must stop, look, and listen for His direction. And we'll need courage to leave our comfort zones and venture where He leads. Scary? Sure. Difficult? Probably. Something we'd rather not do? Could be. But there's more.
Remember when the Israelites left Egypt? When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." (Exodus 13:17)
God knew which way was best for them. Though they would travel a difficult road, He took them away from danger they could not see. And most important...He personally led them! To follow God---to walk in the direction He had chosen for them---they had to leave their comfort zone. The same is true for us.
Are you lost in a comfort zone? Has God asked, "Aren't you going to leave?" Let Him determine your steps. He will lead you, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). And as your faith grows, don't be surprised when you hear yourself say, "I look for forward to what God has planned for me next."
