A monthly column in which Julita Kok shares on living adventurously with God
Is it only me, or is this year speeding to an end like I have not seen before? It is a little scary if we realise time is truly flying, and am I “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” as Scripture commands in Ephesians 5:16.
I think all of us will agree that the day and age we are living in sure became evil. Not even going to go there.
I have been in that in-between season of waiting on the Lord to give me direction of what is next, and this is a difficult time as you feel nothing is moving. No direction, no purpose, but of course, we as His sons know that is not the truth, and I, for one, do not move during these periods in my life. I wait it out, because I have realised it is a God’s timing thing. But while I wait, I do not sit around doing nothing, I am just at rest with what is happening. I know His plans for me are good, and when the time comes, He will reveal not all, but what is needed for the next step.
The past few weeks, God kept reminding me of an experience I had. THIS one sure was an adventure, but not necessarily a nice one.
I was coming over on the ferry from Tanzania into Kenya and Mombasa hit me in the face like a wet cloth. Busy, busy, busy. Hectically busy with people pushing and pushing and each just wanting to survive this very hot day.
I had my GPS on in my car as I was on my way to Nairobi. First time in Mombasa. So I started following the GPS and very soon, I realised that I was going in circles. The one road was not open to drive through and somehow the GPS kept on bringing me back to this stop. It was like a checkpoint with police or army with guns, so when I came to that stop the third time, I knew that this would look suspicious to them.
Also, the thing about Africa is that after 4pm, you should stay off the roads between villages and cities. And time was running out.
As it was already afternoon, I knew that I would not make it to Nairobi, which meant I had to find a safe place to stay over somewhere next to the road. And I have never travelled there, so had no idea if anything was available at all. But I had my rooftop tent if all else failed. as time was running out to 4pm.
So I did what I always do in situations I have no control over. I prayed and I asked the Lord to be my GPS and show me the way out of Mombasa.
I could not find ONE information board on the road I was travelling from the harbour that said Nairobi. Nothing. So I had no cooking clue as to which direction to drive in even. If God does not show me where to go, I knew I would be stuck in Mombasa that evening.
So I prayed and started driving again and suddenly, a big bus just cut in right in front of me… I thought we would crash, but could slow down luckily and when I looked up after the startle… I saw in big letters written on the rear of the bus…
“WE LEAD AND OTHERS FOLLOW”.
I immediately knew God was telling me to follow the bus.
And lo and behold… five minutes later I saw a board stating… NAIROBI… and I could take that lane and the bus continued on a different route.
I found a place that evening and proceeded safely to Nairobi the next day.
But that moment I saw… “WE LEAD AND OTHERS FOLLOW” was a WOW moment in my life concerning this God we serve.
Who is He that He would care about me getting lost in Mombasa, needing to arrive safely in Nairobi?
His love for me and for you is simply mind-blowing.
With Him reminding me of this little adventure, I knew that He was saying…
“Julita, at the right time, I will most certainly show you the way.”
And that is my trust. Not that I will know, but that He already knows and when the time comes, He will share with me what I need to know.
I am safe in His hands. As are you.
So, indeed, He started showing me bits and pieces of the way forward. And now I can tell you so many things that happened during this waiting time, but that is not the essence of the story.
One thing you need to know about me is how happy I am living in Kleinmond in the Western Cape of South Africa. It is a wonderful little coastal town where kids can still play in the streets and where we meet each other down at the lagoon after work in summer or any beautiful day for that matter.
Simply lovely, and my grandkids and two of my children reside here. So happy space for me to come home to after my travels.
And then the Lord started preparing my heart and finally told me… He wants me in Pretoria.
I have to MOVE there.
What??
So I spent two weeks praying into this and really making sure it is what He is saying, so let me share this… heheheheheheh. I think God sometimes just laughs at our ignorance, innocence…stupidity?
I was in Buffels Bay for two weeks praying into all of this moving to Pretoria situation and it was raining all the time. But one morning, it was a beautiful, clear day and as I looked, I saw three whales in the bay.
I watched them through binoculars and they were so lazy. Showing a tail or a fin every now and then, but that was it.
I had been watching them for four hours already at the time when I suddenly felt it drop in my heart… you have to move to Pretoria.
And I was like… Lord… the Word says we are not to seek a sign, but this is such a huge thing. Please confirm this and let those lazy whales jump!!
I am telling you, the shock on my system when, within seconds from saying this, those whales, all three of them, started their majestic jumps… for more or less five minutes… they jumped and for the rest of the day… NOTHING.
Lazy again.
At that moment, I knew God was saying… “I understand this is difficult and seems unreal to go back to what you escaped from years ago. So I permitted you a sign as I want you to move to Pretoria.
And that just settled it.
I knew. I am to pack up and move.
And suddenly, I was totally okay with it, for I knew… He will lead, and I will follow safely to my destination.
After that, things just started falling into place.
After months of asking where, what and how… suddenly the answers came and I knew it is now His timing.
This is what I have waited for. His perfect timing.
I now know a little bit of what the next season will ask from me and that I will be operating from the capital of South Africa.
And this is good.
I can still visit my kids and grandkids when I want to and in the time we live in with video calls and so, they are never far.
So to you who are in this season. Not knowing what is next. Where to go? Should I move, should I stay?
When the grace starts lifting for something… be patient. This is the sign that things will start moving. And when the grace has completely lifted, YOU will be ready to do the new thing.
Till then… you wait on God’s perfect timing.
Stick it out.
It is such an uncomfortable place to be, but stick it out… the best is yet to come.
And when that grace lifts, you will receive the grace for the next thing.
If someone told me in January of this year that I would move to Pretoria, I would answer… not in this lifetime.
Now, in the beginning of October of this same year… I am so excited to move and to see what God has in store for me THERE…, because THERE is a place in the spirit, a place of authority, a place of being one with Him and I want to be THERE.
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles…” Isaiah 40:31
I am going to be like a young eagle again at 61 heheheheheheh, because THERE is where my next season in Him is.
Trust HIS process.
Much love my dear readers.
Let us build HIS kingdom.
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