Moving is never easy. It can disrupt our routines, pull us away from friends, and fill us with uncertainty. Yet sometimes we know deep down that we’re being called to move.
In 1999, my family and I left the comfort of close friendships in Florida and stepped into the unknown of Greenville, South Carolina. We didn’t know anyone, but we believed God was leading us there to help bring Cursillo to life in the upstate. It was challenging, but we trusted His plan.
I believe God calls all of us to move – but not always in the way you might think.
In Mark 8:22-26, Jesus did something remarkable. He took a blind man by the hand and led him away from the crowd, out of the village. There, in that quiet, personal moment, He restored the man’s sight. But what happened next is just as intriguing. Instead of sending him back home to celebrate, Jesus gave him a curious command: “Do not even go into the village.”
Why would Jesus say that? What deeper lesson is hidden in His words? That’s what we’re unpacking.
In biblical times, blindness wasn’t just a physical condition; it symbolized a deeper spiritual reality. And if we’re honest, sin leaves all of us a little blind. Here’s the good news: Jesus longs to heal us. However, His healing comes with a challenge. He doesn’t want us to return to the same old ways, the same environment that kept us in darkness. He calls us to move.
Seek a spiritual shift
What kind of move am I talking about? Not just a physical one, but a spiritual shift – a transformation that allows us to see through the eyes of Christ. Let me explain.
For many of us, our “village” represents our old way of thinking, bad habits, sins and past failures. It may even represent the people, places and influences that keep pulling us back into the same destructive patterns. Just as Jesus led the blind man away before healing him, sometimes God calls us to step out of our familiar surroundings so He can work in our lives.
Perhaps our village is a deep-seated resentment that we refuse to let go of. Maybe it’s a habit or addiction that keeps us spiritually blind. It could be a fear that holds us back from trusting God completely. Whatever it is, Jesus is calling us to move away from what keeps us spiritually stagnant and toward a deeper relationship with Him.
Moving is rarely comfortable. It requires faith. Abraham had to leave his homeland and step into the unknown when God called him (Genesis 12:1). The Israelites had to leave Egypt before they could reach the Promised Land. Even the disciples had to leave behind their nets, their jobs and their old lives to follow Jesus.
And just like them, we, too, must move.
So how do we move?
Recognize where we are stuck. Ask God to reveal the areas in our life that keep us from growing spiritually. What are we holding on to that He wants us to leave behind?
Trust God’s direction. Even when we don’t know where He is leading, we need to trust that His plans for us are good. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.
Take action. Faith requires movement. We cannot stay in the same place and expect change. Whether it’s breaking free from a bad habit, reconciling a broken relationship, or stepping out in faith to serve God in a new way – we must move forward.
Surround ourselves with the right people. If our village is full of influences that pull us away from God, we must find a new community that encourages us in our faith.
Keep our eyes on Jesus. The enemy will try to lure us back to our old ways, just as the Israelites were tempted to return to Egypt. But fixing our eyes on Christ will keep us moving forward.
Where is God calling us to move today?
Maybe it’s time to let go of a sin that has held us captive.
Maybe it’s time to forgive someone who hurt us.
Maybe it’s time to step into a calling we have been resisting.
Whatever it is, we don’t want to stay where we are.
Jesus healed the blind man and told him not to return to his village. Today, Jesus wants to heal us, too. He wants us to leave our “village” behind and move. Will we? The season of Lent is an ideal time to move. Let’s pack our bags and go!
Brian Pusateri, a Christian author and speaker, founded 4th Day Letters and Broken Door Ministries. This is condensed from an essay published at www.brokendoorministries.com.