Many years ago, I was studying abroad in a little town called Ormskirk, England.

I loved it there, actually. The college was okay but I loved being close to so many incredible places and being able to grab my backpack and go visit somewhere new each weekend.

I also walked a lot, and was in much better shape when I came back to the states. I frequently took the long walk from campus into town to run errands or just get out a bit. It was a lovely tree-lined street that I came to know pretty well.

There was one particular day after I’d been there a couple of months or more that I was walking through town and about to go into a shop when it struck me just how strange it felt to feel so “at home” in a foreign country.

I knew my way around the town and what knew how to say T-Mobile when requesting a top-up card for my borrowed mobile phone so the cashier didn’t give me AS strange of a look at hearing my American accent. I could always blend in until I opened my mouth to speak.

It had become a new comfort zone and I felt at peace there. It was a strange, surreal feeling.

In that moment, in the center of Ormskirk, I heard God’s voice in my spirit, telling me that “home” is wherever He leads me.

It was profound.

Years later, I can look back and recognize other foreign lands I’ve had to walk through, that looked much different. Grief, trauma, loss… He’s been right with me, all along.

Even when I don’t recognize the path, He knows it well and leads the way.

Friend. He knows the way. It’s okay if you don’t. You can trust Him. Home is wherever He is.

Armor up, my dear.

In Christ,

Keri

PS – God was teaching me so much about His character and how much He loves us during that period of time. Those lessons I was learning found their way into my first book, Love Isn’t Selfish: Understanding God’s love through human relationships. You can find it on Amazon if you want to learn more!