How To Remain Faithful When God Calls You to Stay

“Climb something high, don’t look down,

and don’t look back.

Yeah, when I die, I wanna know I lived like that…”

Those are lyrics from one of my favorite songs (“Go”, by Cody Fry).  I guess it’s because they’ve always reminded me of my 26-year journey with my husband.  Where “Let’s go!” has been our theme and “adventure” the chosen route.  Three years of dating four hours apart across multiple universities (before email and smart phones).  Making homes and lifelong friends in four different states (and almost another country – we were willing – God said “nah”).  Passionately serving and loving folks from New Mexico to Africa.  Building a family from neonatal ICU’s to an orphanage in Kigali, Rwanda.  Home schooling, public schooling, private schooling, virtual schooling…

The “Go” has never been a struggle.  I have welcomed every new opportunity as an exciting undertaking and never “looked down” or “looked back.”  For me, the going has been fun and (usually) fairly effortless.

It’s the staying that gets me. 

Staying in tough, God-ordained scenarios where there seems to be no relief in sight.  Staying in hospitals instead of bringing my babies home quickly.  Staying at home with kids who have greater needs than can be met outside of it.  Staying in roles I’d rather trade for more (obviously) fruitful ones.  The very definition of “stay” denotes the mundane – to remain in the SAME place.  Sometimes for a very long time.  Not by my choice. My personality needs to go – my spirit gets restless, and my soul craves change and newness.

But some of God’s greatest accomplishments through men and women have required staying.  Staying in a wilderness with a bunch of ungrateful wanderers. Staying in an Egyptian dungeon when innocent, in order to eventually save all of Israel.  Staying in a cave, to hide from the king trying to kill you, when the throne is your rightful place. Staying with your mother-in-law when you’ve been widowed instead of finding new love among your own people. Staying in Egypt until the threat on your son’s life is gone. Staying in a jail cell where you end up writing half of the New Testament. Staying on a cross you don’t deserve, to atone for sins you never committed, to save the rebellious people you created and adore.  

The call to “stay” can seem like a burden.  But I’m praying for eyes to see it as a sanctuary.

Staying on my knees.

Staying in the Word.

Staying humble.

Staying teachable.

Staying where God wants to use me.

Staying the course.

I still love the adventure of going and will always be packed and ready for the next big one.  But I’m also TRYING to be willing to stay.  After all, there are lots of exciting “little go’s” in the midst of the staying.  Don’t want to miss a single one of those either.

Where is God calling you to “stay” (or “go”) right now?  Are you kicking and screaming? (If so you’re in good company!)  Or are you settling in, bags packed, but heart open to the meaning of the moment, the significance of the “stay?”  I’d love to hear your story in the comments (above).