Seven weeks into my stress leave from work, the camper renovation was finally complete enough to begin the journey we weren't even invited on.
With my return-to-work date approaching and Nick's unemployment ending, it felt like it was now or never.
Then, two days before departure, sickness fell on me. To make matters worse, I suffered an injury that gave me every excuse to stay home.
"This is nuts," I thought. "Everyone is right."
We barely had enough money for gas. We were preparing to leave with no invitation, no address, and no clear destination—just a dream, a camper, and the belief that God was leading us somewhere new.
That's when the accusations began.
"No one is coming to rescue you when this falls apart. You're dragging two young children into a reckless plan. When it fails, you'll be the one left holding the pieces. Nick gets to dream, but you'll have to clean up the mess. The kids will suffer for it. Staying home is the smart choice. The only choice."
The more I listened, the more reasonable it sounded.
Then it hit me.
Those weren't my thoughts.
The sickness? An obstacle.
The fear? A fiery dart.
The injury? Well, that one may have been my own doing after a night of weakness and an attempt to numb my worries instead of surrendering them to the Lord.
Still, the accusations were relentless.
And suddenly I remembered: the righteous may fall seven times, but they rise again (Proverbs 24:16).
Aside from wanting to spite the enemy for coming at me so hard, I desperately wanted to support my husband. So the next morning, despite every reason to stay home, I finished preparing for departure.
We packed the camper.
Loaded the kids.
Turned the key.
And began what would become an eleven-state, ten-day lesson in the difference between following God and trying to force His hand.
God may not have orchestrated the trip, but He was with us every mile of the journey.
Looking back, I can see that I wasn't simply chasing a destination. I was chasing certainty. I wanted confirmation that I had heard God correctly. I wanted proof that our sacrifices weren't in vain. What I didn't yet understand was that faith rarely comes with a detailed itinerary.
Companion Thought:
There is a difference between trusting God's promises and trying to force His timing.
Join the adventure in Chronicle #12