His Will Not Mine.
- by Jonathan Whitaker
This week I got that old familiar feeling, that nervous tension in my stomach that means only one thing… it’s time to move again. Jennifer and I have been at this a long time, both of us were Air Force Brats, Air Force Officers and Air Force Spouses, so we have said our share of goodbyes. Some are harder than others. This one was a Duisey.
For us, leaving our friends at Element, the people we serve along-side, people with whom we share our lives, people who have become aunts and uncles to our little chicks, was truly as hard as leaving family. For the simple fact that you have become our family.
So, now I have a problem. I want to serve God, but I want to do it by serving all of the people I love at Element. It seems I have two options in this case. First, I could sulk and tell God, “I wanna be with my friends in Santa Maria.” Sure, why not, I had a good run there, I could just quit my job and move in with James and Hailey! Or, I could do what I did the last time I left a group of people whom I loved… I can trust that God is sovereign and that He has a plan that is already in the works.
How do I know this is true? Well, because of you. As I left San Antonio, a place I love, in Texas, which is home to 90% of our blood family, I prayed that God would give my family a home, community and a mission in Santa Maria. I think we can agree that He did just that.
In his greetings to the Roman Church, Paul expresses his deep desire to minister to them, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:9-12. Element brothers and sisters, I am Paul and you are my Rome.
As God was faithful to give you to me the first time, He will no doubt have a fruitful ministry awaiting Jennifer and me in Washington DC. This has to be the case, or He would not have excused me from the important work that you are doing at Element. For this same reason, I know that he will bring us back to you. On a side note, next time we see each other, we will all be older, fatter and grayer, so everyone just be cool, alright!
Here is my blessing over you. Keep up the pace, forge strong bonds with one another, be kind and forgiving, don’t let the sun set on your anger with one another, become a community of the Gospel that God can use to accomplish His work in Santa Maria.
“For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” Romans 16:19
Signing off,
Jonathan & Jennifer Whitaker
For us, leaving our friends at Element, the people we serve along-side, people with whom we share our lives, people who have become aunts and uncles to our little chicks, was truly as hard as leaving family. For the simple fact that you have become our family.
So, now I have a problem. I want to serve God, but I want to do it by serving all of the people I love at Element. It seems I have two options in this case. First, I could sulk and tell God, “I wanna be with my friends in Santa Maria.” Sure, why not, I had a good run there, I could just quit my job and move in with James and Hailey! Or, I could do what I did the last time I left a group of people whom I loved… I can trust that God is sovereign and that He has a plan that is already in the works.
How do I know this is true? Well, because of you. As I left San Antonio, a place I love, in Texas, which is home to 90% of our blood family, I prayed that God would give my family a home, community and a mission in Santa Maria. I think we can agree that He did just that.
In his greetings to the Roman Church, Paul expresses his deep desire to minister to them, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:9-12. Element brothers and sisters, I am Paul and you are my Rome.
As God was faithful to give you to me the first time, He will no doubt have a fruitful ministry awaiting Jennifer and me in Washington DC. This has to be the case, or He would not have excused me from the important work that you are doing at Element. For this same reason, I know that he will bring us back to you. On a side note, next time we see each other, we will all be older, fatter and grayer, so everyone just be cool, alright!
Here is my blessing over you. Keep up the pace, forge strong bonds with one another, be kind and forgiving, don’t let the sun set on your anger with one another, become a community of the Gospel that God can use to accomplish His work in Santa Maria.
“For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” Romans 16:19
Signing off,
Jonathan & Jennifer Whitaker
