ROOTED IN CHRIST

By Traci McCombs

“Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him.Let Him makeyou strong in the faith asyou have been taught.Your life should befull of thanks to Him.” (Colossians 2:7-9)

Uprooted as an active duty military spouse. As an active duty military spouse, I’m always anticipating our family’s next move. For the past sixteen years my husband has been called to serve the United States Army at locations around the world.

Since our marriage in 2010, we have packed and moved our household goods five times. Once across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii, thrice stateside, and once across the Atlantic Ocean to Germany. That may seem like a lot, but this is typical for a family with an Active Duty Service Member. When Adam comes home with news of a new assignment, I take a deep breath. A mixture of excitement and anxiety rush over me as I wonder: Will he deploy as soon as we move? Will we like our new home? Will we find a community of believers? Will there bea church close by thatis aligned with our beliefs?

Being deeply rooted when you’re constantly uprooted is a challenge. Especially when you must pack up your life and leave the place you call home, over and over again. Challenges when uprooted. There are diff erent challenges I face each time we move, such as isolation, job hunting, building networks, unpacking, feeling homesick, adjusting to new shops, and finding a good community. I’ve chosen to focus on the three challenges that have been hardest for me: isolation, being homesick, and finding community.

Isolation: Two months after Adam and I got married in Hawaii, he deployed to Afghanistan for a yearlong combat assignment. I stayed in Hawaii, and although I was living in paradise, I felt so alone. Not only was my husband missing, my friends were an ocean away.

Homesick: Making a house a home isn’t easy. I often get frustrated by the diff erent floorplans that don’t fit our furniture. At night I get woken up by new and unfamiliar sounds. And trying to make sure the kids’ rooms are comfortable in each new house takes time and energy. All these little things add up to homesickness.

Community: The challenges of finding a community and church aren’t easy either. It’s easy to complain and say, “It’s just not the same as our old church.” Meeting new people is hard and the temptation to compare new faces to old friends is even harder.

Growing Roots: Yes, being uprooted has been a challenge. But it’s also been a great opportunity for me to grow deep roots: roots of faith in Christ that I never imagined possible. If you find yourself feeling isolated, homesick, or lacking community there are a few lessons I’d like to share that helped me grow deeper roots during a season of moves, transition and uncertainty. being rooted in jesus. First and foremost, above all things, stay rooted in Jesus. No matter where you are or what you are going through, you can always spend time in the Word and you can always pray. “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:12 NIV)

Instead of focusing on your isolation, fix your eyes on Christ. Isolation hurts but it also presents a unique opportunity to spend more time with God.

“...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)

When I miss my family, when I miss my friends, and when my husband is deployed – I remember Jesus is the foundation. I open His Word, I kneel in prayer, and I feel God’s love wash over me.

This is not our home. One of the greatest blessings of moving all the time is the reminder

that as Christians, we are not home yet. When I miss my old kitchen or the way the birds chirped outside the other house’s window, God gently whispers, “You’re not home yet.” “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” (Hebrews 13:14 NLT)

Moves, transitions, and uncertainty make us uncomfortable. When we are uncomfortable we must be more dependent on God. When we depend on God, we can grow deeper roots.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2 NIV)

When I miss my old garden, when I get frustrated with new appliances, and when our furniture doesn’t fit – I remember this is all temporary. God reminds me that I can be joyful even when I’m uncomfortable.

Show Grace and Receive Grace: The first month after any move I’ve been tempted to guard my heart. I’ve attended church but with apprehension. I’ve put my kids in Sunday school but haven’t introduce myself to other parents. Sadly, I have missed out on great opportunities to meet people more times than I’d like to admit. Rather, we must

“...not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25 ESV)

I have learned that the sooner I put my guard down the sooner my family can develop lasting friendships. I have also learned that with each new move I meet another amazing group of people. My eyes are now open to the amazingly unique body of Christ...something I wouldn’t experience without the moves.

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5 NIV)

When I am tempted to judge a new church, when I am tempted to compare new faces to old friends, and when I am tempted to complain – God reminds me of His grace and my responsibility to show grace to others. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)

When I feel isolated, I can kneel before God and trust that He will never leave me nor forsake me. When my house doesn’t feel like home I can remember that God is my shelter and I can rest in the shadow of the Almighty. When I need support God will provide the proper community of believers – in His perfect time.

Traci McCombs is a fertility blogger with her first book in progress, “My Road2Motherhood, A Journey of Faith,” forthcoming Fall 2020. Her goal is to shine light on the unique infertility or pregnancy loss challenges women face and provide hope and healthy coping mechanisms through a solid foundation in scripture. She’s a Christ follower and military spouse who currently lives in Stuttgart, Germany with her husband Adam, rainbow baby Morgan, and son Micah. Follow her and her incredible journey at Road2Motherhood.com

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