“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3–4
I wish I had and internal GPS so I could throw my real one out the car window. I can’t count the number of times I’ve keyed in an address only to find that 20 minutes later I’m pulled over in a parking lot because the GPS needs to “recalculate.” We love when things work out in neat and timely ways. We like to reach our destination smoothly and avoid roadblocks at any cost. It’s the waiting and wondering that can lead us to frustration, a feeling of confusion, and even doubt.
It was 18 months ago that God placed the seed of church planting in my heart and began to turn and cultivate the soil. It wasn’t something I planned. As my wife and I started to pray there were a lot of questions. What it would look like? Would we need to relocate from South Carolina? The only thing I knew for sure was God’s calling and that whatever happened, it had to be about Jesus alone and proclaiming his saving grace.
In the past eight months, through waiting and wondering God has taught me to rest on these foundational truths.
God is sovereign
It’s incredible some of the ways God has sovereignly led us to Mars Hill Church, but it wasn’t without a lot of “recalculating” and waiting patiently for him to move. There were plenty of days waiting, wondering, and in prayer when all I could do was say, “I know Mars Hill is where we’re supposed to be.” God is sovereign.
God’s timing is perfect
There was even a test of faith when another ministry opportunity was presented. I hadn’t yet been offered the lead pastor residency position with Mars Hill, but believing in God’s call to this church, I turned that other opportunity down. One hour later, a Mars Hill leader called to offer me the residency. God’s timing is perfect.
God is always good
After accepting the offer, we needed to pack up and move to Seattle in one month to start the residency program. Our house sold in eight days, and my wife was released from her teaching contract without penalty. God is always good.
Anytime confusion or doubt started to creep in, there were two verses that anchored my soul. Isaiah 26:3–4 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”
We can trust that God is sovereign. We can trust that his timing is perfect. We can trust that God is always good. Why? Because he was willing to give his only, perfect Son, Jesus, to die for sinners like you and me. So that by grace alone we might be saved, not having to earn love. We can be assured that we have a good and loving Father who doesn’t abandon us, but has a plan for his glory and our good.
Today I’m a lead pastor resident at Mars Hill, not because I had a golden résumé, or knew someone who knew someone. I’m a sinner, saved by grace alone. My wife and I packed up and moved across country because God’s call was clear, plant churches, love the city, and make disciples. I have the privilege of doing that with a church that loves Jesus and places him above all, because only Jesus saves. It is all about him.
Drew Hensley is a lead pastor resident at the U-District church.
