When many employees were “forced” to go home to work during the Pandemic of 2020, “temporarily” became permanent for a lot of us. So, quite a few individuals have decided it’s time to move to parts of the country where life can be enjoyed while doing jobs remotely.
If this is a choice you now have, but you’re feeling a bit skittish about making the shift, read these tips for a less stressful transition to your new home.
During this time of change, try to remain:
PRAYERFUL
As soon as you know for certain you or your family will be moving elsewhere, begin talking to God about your concerns. Ask the Lord specifically to—
- Sell your current home quickly
- Guide you in finding your next home
- Bring about new friends for yourself (and your children) soon after moving
- Ease the emotional pain of leaving friends behind
In 1 Peter 5:7 we’re reminded to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This means we can acknowledge our inadequacy in handling this burden on our own and ask God to take it on His shoulders instead.
WATCHFUL
Stay alert for opportunities of involvement in your new community. Fitness centers, schools, and churches are great ways to quickly get engage with others and make new friends. Seasonal and other special events are always on these calendars!
If you have children who are making the move with you, look for opportunities where they can connect with kids their age. If your move happens during the summer months, there are normally camps galore for kids through churches and community centers. Stay in close conversation with your kids as they start making connections to help them keep the mindset of making good friends a priority. Healthy relationships are key to happier transitions!
POSITIVE
Praying for peace about your new situation will help everyone involved to see the good side of your move. It will help you see your new opportunities in a positive light, allowing you to talk it up with your family. Search out some fun restaurants, activity centers, and parks in the new area to begin forming a list of places to visit within your first few weeks of arrival.
OPEN
We are limited in how we understand life situations. We may think we’re moving for one reason (such as a new job), when God may need us there for a whole different purpose than what seems obvious to us. We simply never know all that the Lord has in store for us since His ways are mysterious for us to understand—as seen in Isaiah 55:8: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
FRIENDLY
New relationships take time and work to form. This is true for adults and kids alike, but the payoff is always great! We need friends to share our good times as well as the concerns in our hearts. So, stay open to the possibility of new relationships at school, business, and church. As much as you may feel alone right now—like nobody else cares or understands —there are people around you right now who do recognize your thoughts and feelings, and desire to help.