I draw so much from Deuteronomy 6:18-19 which says, “Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.”

This scripture was written to the nation of Israel who had been wandering in the desert for 40 years. It describes the conditions set for possessing their promised land. “Doing what was right and good in God’s sight” was their missing link. “Thrusting out all [their] enemies” was also a prerequisite.

In the sports world, a journeyman athlete is someone who over the course of his/her career is a member of many teams. A journeyman is not usually an elite athlete. Instead, he/she is signed to short-term contracts or is traded often because he/she is not productive or valuable enough to merit sticking around & being signed to a long-term contract. Very rarely do you find a journeyman by choice.

In my adult life, I feel very much like a journeyman, but only in the sense that I’ve moved around a lot. My transitions have all been by choice, meaning I’ve never been asked to leave. In college, I attended UMass for 2 years then transferred to Tufts University for my final 2 years. Since 2002, I’ve moved from Boston to live in California for 3 years, then to Virginia for 1.5 years, then back to Boston for 1.5 years, then back to Virginia where I’ve been for almost a year. With all the geographical movement, since 1996 I’ve been a member/have served at many churches including: Pentecostal Tabernacle (5 years), Jubilee Church (1.5 years), Pasadena Church of God (1 year), Faithful Central Church (1 year), Montrose Community Church (1 year), Heritage Fellowship Church (1.5 years), back to Pentecostal Tabernacle (1.5 years), and now Grace Covenant Church (where I’ve been for almost a year).

Anyone who knows me well knows that ever since around the spring semester of my freshman year in college God & the church have been central parts of my life. In my travels, I’ve had the opportunity to make many great friends within the various communities I’ve been a part of. While I treasure the many close friendships I’ve formed, I feel great remorse at not being able to experience life closer to so many people with whom I wish I could.

I recall feverishly studying what the Bible had to say about love when I was a junior in college. I read books and listened to topical sermons about agape, God’s love – the highest form of love. Around that time in my life, I remember determining to love people with the love of God. I wanted to impart the love of God to each person I got to know. As I opened up my heart to love others, God poured his love into my heart with greater measure.

As I sit back and write this blog, I can’t help but think of the many people I know whom I strive to love. There are people you meet in life and strive to love, but then there are those friends with whom you form a bond of love. These are the people who walk with you and war with you even when they are hundreds of miles away.

In recent years, there have been moments when I’ve regretted all the movement. I’ve wondered “how much further I would be” if I’d stayed in one place. I’ve thought about some of the stronger relationships I would have formed. I’ve thought about some of the opportunities I’ve passed up, believing that God had something else for me. But, then I pause & realize that what I build means nothing compared to who I am. And, I have to trust in God’s sovereignty. God’s sovereign hand has a way of building you up in character in preparation for the work He is calling you to do. God is not as interested in your head, your hands, and your feet, as He is your heart. Although some might commend me for my heart, I am comfortable with the thought that God is still shaping my character in a major way. I will always believe this.

My testimony is that I feel settled in that I’m more concerned with building my character than achieving any other ambition of mine. Thus, even when I’m in transition, I can always be building. Thus, even when I’m not doing what I’d like to be doing, I’m at peace with God’s process of character development. “He must be up to wanting to form something within me,” I’ve come to tell myself.

Are you in a journey of some kind right now? Where are you hoping to arrive? What are you hoping to build? Along the path of your journey, I encourage you to prioritize growing in character.

Like for Israel, what righteousness and goodness is God looking to form in you? What enemies need to be thrust out?

Lastly, remember Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “God knows the plans He has for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”

Aren’t you glad that God is not trying to figure out plans on how to prosper you? The plans are already set. And, they are plans to prosper you.

Therefore even while you’re in transition, expect God to prosper you. Expect His highest and best. Expect His grace in your life.

Live the life.