Moving - When did it get so difficult?

Over the last few days, as I've been finishing up exams, I also moved to a garage apartment in Raleigh (about 35 minutes away from the seminary and church). It was frustrating and tiring to move all my things out of the house I've been sharing with another seminary student, and then either take the things to a storage unit or to the (very small) apartment. I was shocked at how much stuff I've accumulated over the last 3 years living at the house.

What struck me about the move, though, wasn't that I had so many things, but that at some point, moving changed from an exciting event to a drudgery. Once upon a time, it was exciting to move to a new town, find the best routes to work, discover where the local grocery stores were, etc. I know that with maturity, one gains new perspectives, but the more I think about it, the more I think I missed something in the process. Or, better yet, I think I've started putting down roots to an extent that moving actually is painful. I leave behind good friends (yes, even moving 30 minutes away will affect relationships with people you've lived just a mile or two from), comfortable living arrangements that I've gotten accustomed to, and any number of life issues that I've been able to act upon in autopilot - going to the grocery store, getting the oil changed, running by a friend's house, etc.

But, more than those realizations, I believe we can rest assured that our problem isn't a hatred of moving, but a lack of faith. You see, it's taken me a long time to truly believe that our great God actually has my best interests at heart. I used to think that He did want to change me, reform me, but that his reformation was done out of justice, out of a harsh taskmaster mentality that couldn't stand for my sinfulness. Now, I understand that since He is love, and He is perfect, that His acts of reformation are loving. There is nothing in this life that we'll experience that He cannot use to bring us closer to Himself. Recently in a class, we read a quote by Jerry Bridges that assured us that there was no type of suffering that we could go through that, as believers in Christ, was purposeless. What a joyous way to look at trials - that they do have a purpose!

I know that moving isn't the same as losing a loved one to a tragedy or being imprisoned for sharing the Gospel, but, how much more important is it to make sure our faith is proper when it comes to the little things in life! Scripture says that "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones." (Luke 16:10) We need to understand the Gospel everyday - that His forgiveness, love, steadfastness and grace are needed to make it through ANY situation. Anything from a tragedy in life, to a struggle with your car, to, yes, a move into a smaller apartment.