I . love . change. Well, at least 98% of the time.
When my husband and I first got married and had our first apartment, randomly we would get that “look in our eye” (not THAT look 😉) — the, “let’s change something” look. And then one of us would say, “What do you think if we moved that chair over there?” “Hmmm. Good thought. Let’s try it!”
And from there we would not only move our chair, we would completely rearrange the entire living room furniture, decor, and wall hangings … about every 2 months!
I love the feeling of rearranging things within my life. It gives me this sense of something fresh and new. Now, this may be the positivity within me, but I can’t help it. I love to try new things! Eat new foods. Go to new places. Make new friends.
But when COVID hit and I had to make a change of something I LOVED that not only affected me but others I cared about, that just didn’t feel “happy and fun”, like mixing up my living room furniture.
I have been leading Substance Moms at our church for 6 years and have loved every minute of it. I especially have loved our group on Wednesday mornings … seeing lots of moms gathering together for fellowship and community, speaking and emceeing on a regular basis to lead and encourage, and watching our table leaders pour into other moms each and every week as they discuss and pray together.
But 100 moms meeting in one large room every week in this season of COVID (plus all the kids in childcare rooms!) isn’t feasible at this time. So, I had to make a decision to change up one of my very favorite things: meeting as a large moms group.
Even though change can be hard, there is something so very sweet and freeing about surrender. Letting go is where the Holy Spirit connects with us in a special way.
Isaiah 43:19 says this: “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
God is saying here, “I’m not just the God of the past. There will be something far more amazing that I have yet to do.”
This was true for the people in the days of Isaiah, but I believe it is also a prophetic word for our time! God HAS been faithful… but there is more to come! And that is true for Substance Moms too.
Instead of meeting every week in a large group as we’ve done in the past, this fall we are going to invite moms into our homes (messy or clean) to gather as small groups called Gather Groups. From there, moms will develop authentic relationships and learn how to “do life” together, to be the body of Christ for one another, and to experience God through each other!
The Holy Spirit is doing a strategic move here, and I’m so excited about it!
But to be honest, I’ve had to grieve letting go of the past because I’ve loved it so much. I mean, speaking to a large group about Jesus is my sweet spot, and our moms group routine was my comfort zone! But God is doing a NEW THING! And I’d rather embrace the new thing where there is life, growth, a way in the desert, and streams in the wasteland, rather than hold on to the old former things that I once loved so dearly.
We don’t know all that the future holds, but what we do know is this:
- God’s ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:9)
- With Jesus, our future plans are full of hope! (Jeremiah 29:11)
- And a new thing is springing up! (Isaiah 43:19)
So get ready. The Holy Spirit has us on a new adventure this season, mamas. And I believe it’s going to be even more fun and fresh than rearranging living room furniture!
Sarah Legband is a stay-at-home-mom who manages a multi-generational household (1 husband, 2 young kids, and 3 grandparents). She has been at Substance Church for nine years and has been leading Substance Moms for the past six years. She loves public speaking, salsa dancing, and Thai food.