We, or someone we know, may be required to leave our comfort zone, or a place of familiarity, and relocate, whether to take up work in a different country, move to a different school, or even seek refuge in a never-before-visited territory due to war or uprising. Although this can seem quite a daunting prospect, we do actually have a choice. We can give in to anxiety. Or we can trustingly turn to God in consecrated prayer and obedience and move forward with calm assurance, confidence, and peace – and find that we are being unerringly guided and practically taken care of.
The Bible is full of examples of those faced with these kinds of situations, and we can learn helpful lessons from their experiences. Genesis records the story of Abram, later renamed Abraham, whom God asked to leave all that was familiar to him and go to an unknown country that God would show him. Without questioning why or even where this new country was, he went. Abraham was blessed immensely by this act of faith and obedience, becoming a “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5) and also enjoying immense prosperity.
We see similar faith and obedience expressed by Christ Jesus’ disciples. For example, two fisherman brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew, while going about their livelihood one day, were asked by Jesus to change their daily business and follow him. We read in the Gospel of Matthew that “they straightway left their nets, and followed him” (4:20). They were blessed by this act of faith, ultimately healing many and helping to start the Christian church, which has endured for more than 2,000 years.
As an example of a different type of instruction – a stay-in-place instruction – just before his ascension, Jesus told his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they received power from the Holy Spirit (see Luke 24:49).
Speaking from personal experience, the discoverer of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, knowing the demands of Christian discipleship, writes in “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” “Those, who are willing to leave their nets or to cast them on the right side for Truth, have the opportunity now, as aforetime, to learn and to practise Christian healing. The Scriptures contain it” (p. 271).
It is not necessarily easy to take one or more steps – a leap of faith – and follow wherever God leads. It may involve wrestling with doubt and fear and striving to overcome resistance to obedience. But if we turn to the all-knowing God, who knows us intimately and loves us dearly, and are willing to follow where divine Love is leading, then we can shift the burden of responsibility off our weary shoulders and trust God’s unfailing ability and willingness to bless us.
God, infinite Mind – intelligence itself – is the source of all true thought, and each one of us, as the individual, intelligent idea of God, can hear Christ, Truth, speaking to us in a way we can understand, showing us the right next step and keeping us safe.
Giving up a material sense of self and home – or staying put when we would rather leave – ends up not being the impossible sacrifice we feared. Things usually turn out so much better than anticipated. This is what God does. Our loving Father does not require of us what trust and faith cannot bear, and we really are able to do what God asks of us. This is what is required of anyone who truly desires to be a disciple of Christ, and this is the standard of Christian Science.
But what if we are faced with making a choice between two or more options or have mistaken the call? Mrs. Eddy reassuringly writes, “The good cannot lose their God, their help in times of trouble. If they mistake the divine command, they will recover it, countermand their order, retrace their steps, and reinstate His orders, more assured to press on safely” (“Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896,” p. 10).
Placing our hand in God’s, as a trusting child with a loving parent, even before we fully understand what is required, we can, like Abraham and Jesus’ disciples, and so many others in the Bible, step out in faith, following wherever God leads, step by step.
As we dare to be willing to do God’s bidding, whatever it might be, we will find that this brings a blessing rather than a sacrifice. We can trustingly follow God to move or stay. He knows and leads the way.
Adapted from an editorial published in the Nov. 24, 2025, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.
