This move to Edmonton has been stressful for all of us. We’ve all had adjustments to make. Even our dog…

Kia, our 6.5-year-old Akita who we rescued 3.5 years ago, took the move especially hard. She was finally settling into what she thought was her “forever” home, when strangers began “showing up” and taking things away. Furniture and other items began disappearing, and what had once been bedrooms and dining rooms were suddenly storage areas for boxes… Finally, she was whisked away to a good friend’s house where she had to stay without being allowed to see her family for more than a week. Then when my wife finally showed up and told her they were going “home” … Well she had no concept that this meant 4,000 km (2,500 miles), four days in a car and four hotel rooms! And the place she was told was “home” was empty and totally foreign to her!

It took a while, but Kia has finally settled in. She loves her new house, she loves the fact that the complex where she and my wife live backs onto a 10 km trail with legal off-leash dog areas, she even loves the climate—though I’m not sure if she will still say that after she’s been here an entire winter!

There is just one tiny negative aspect: She no longer has a fenced yard where she can go out to do her business.

My wife tries to compensate for this. She takes Kia out to one of the leash-free areas a minimum of twice a day, for the sole purpose of letting Kia “water” and “fertilize” the soil. Kia loves being able to find where other dogs have gone before her, and sometimes she’s lucky enough be able to romp and play with other off-leash dogs.

In truth, she is starting to love these leash-free areas a little too much. You see, she’s learned that the point of these excursions is for her to do her business of “watering” and “fertilizing” the soil, and she has learned to … stall! Initially she would find the right spots immediately, but lately this process can take up to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, my wife is patiently waiting for her!

God gives us many, many blessings in life. However, at no time in our lives is everything perfect. Just like Kia’s new home is missing a fenced yard, there will always be things in life that we wish were different! No matter what is missing, however, God always compensates for it. He brings us different blessings to make up for the things that we would prefer to be different. Take my living situation, as an example. For the most part I’m content in the home where I must now reside. Ask me, however, if I would prefer to be at home, and I’d respond with a hearty YES! I understand, however, that my wife can no longer care for me at home, and I’ve accepted this, and God has surrounded me with wonderful people who care for me, feed me, and I believe, even love me. I am grateful for this, but it isn’t quite the same as living at home. When my wife’s visits come to a close each day and she begins to say good-bye, I become a bit like my dog! I stall! Sometimes I walk off and pretend I didn’t understand. Sometimes I go out the locked door with her, and other times I give her a big hug and won’t let her go!

I think that sometimes we “stall” when it comes to our Spiritual lives as well. We get comfortable where we are, and, well, we don’t want to move on! God tends to give us things—blessings, responsibilities, even ministries—for a season: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” (Eccl. 3:1 NIV). And because all seasons eventually pass, it means that whatever season we find ourselves in will eventually pass.

What will you do when you come to the end of your current season? Will you, like Kia–and me!–stall? Will you try to convince God that you need more time? Or will you move on to the next season with anticipation for what God has in store for you? Remember: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Eccl. 3:11 NIV)

When God starts to call you out of whatever season you’re in right now, don’t stall! Have faith that He has made everything beautiful in its time!

Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Founder, Answers2Prayer Ministries