There are many good reasons people choose to move to the country, but today, I would like to touch on a huge factor that should NOT be your primary motivation for leaving the city for the country. I interact with others in various country living social media groups on a daily basis. I can tell you that this factor is prevalent and can negatively impact your decision making process.
We want to make prayerful, deliberate movements rather than making huge sweeping changes. Having experienced all of these same powerful emotions myself, I can also vouch for how real these feelings are for many of us who understand the importance of moving to the country.
Here is one big reason you SHOULDN’T move to the country:
FEAR
Head for the hills! Uncle Sam is on your trail! Drones! Satellites! Food Riots! Power Outages! While many of these kind of concerns are valid (and concerns that I share with my friends in the preparedness community), I think we do ourselves a disservice by focusing too much on things that produce fear in our lives. Believe me, alternative media media has exposed me to just about every sector of corruption and conspiracy out there, and, I actually believe that some of these are based on well-documented fact, HOWEVER, as Christians, we should never allow ourselves to be controlled by fear. If we consume a steady diet of these theories, we risk allowing ourselves to be controlled by these fears rather than letting the One that is greater than our fears (1 John 3:20) to shield us from these dangerous times.
The Bible says in Psalms 56:11, “In God will I put my trust, I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” Rather, the Bible says, “…fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). In other words, rather than fearing our all of the scary people and circumstances in our world, we should fear [be in awe, revere, reverence Strongs Concordance #5399).
Let me also say that fear can be a temporary positive motivating factor, as long as you don’t stay in a fearful state. Fear shows us our current condition and alerts us to the dangers we face, both in the spiritual and physical dimensions of life. It shows us our need for change. These are all positive elements of fear. But fear can also have several negative effects as it concerns country living:
“What if I don’t make it out in time?!”
This thought rings loud in the minds of many Seventh-day Adventist Christians who are trying to make their way from city to country living. And yes, this is a valid concern. Most of us have read about the terrible destruction soon to come upon the cities and we can see the violence and soul-destroying vices exhibiting themselves in our large centers of population. It is, indeed, a scary thought that we could be involved in all of the calamities about to befall the wicked. This line of thinking which motivates us to get out of the city can, at the same time, lead to poor decisions being made.
My favorite Christian author, a lady named Ellen White, had a lot to say about the necessity of moving our families from the city into the country and raising our own provisions. One Christian brother at a leading Christian university in the 1800’s had read her counsel on this matter and he decided to tell others about it. His use of her inspired advice to leave the cities created such a stir that between 100 and 200 people were ready to drop everything and run to the country. Let’s read a short excerpt from her response to this event below:
Your letter tells me, my brother, that there are many who are stirred deeply to move out of Battle Creek. There is need, great need, of this work being done, and now. Those who have felt at last to make a move, let it not be in a rush, in an excitement, or in a rash manner, or in a way that hereafter they will deeply regret that they did move out…. [Notice: the author says there is a “great need” to make the move into the country, yet, she also says we should not be rash in doing this.] The quote continues:
“Do all things decently and in order”
“I’m finally in the country! How can I get set up before no-buy-no-sell hits! Ahhh!”
This fear is very common (and one that I have often shared). This fear leads to buying a ton of gear (much of which you may regret buying later when you calm down) in a short amount of time. This drains the few resources you have and delays your departure into the country. It can also lead to binge buying and hoarding which are both things that I do not condone (more on my definition of hoarding in a future blog post).
Let me says this: If you have been doing all you can through prayer, planning, and preparation; and if God has helped you in so many ways thus far, He will continue to help you to know what to do before that time hits, He will show you what skills to learn, He will deepen your walk with Him through prayer, Bible study, and ministering to the spiritual and practical needs of others. “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). Let us also remember that God expects us to act on the knowledge He has given to us just as He expected Noah and Joseph to act to preserve their families, and, in Joseph’s case, to be the vehicle to preserve entire nations!
“What if I run out of food, water, or other supplies?”
Scarcity. It is a basic human fear that is deeply entrenched within all of us. The above advice also applies to this concern. And remember, we share many videos that show you how to prepare for these realities so that this time can go smoother, Lord-willing. I would encourage you to check out our other blog posts, YouTube videos, and to follow our Facebook page. Try things for yourself. Ask questions. Seek answers from others with experience in these areas.
Also remember that, if necessary, God can send ravens to feed us as He did to feed Elijah (see 1 Kings 17:6 and Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 110). But again, this never excuses us from taking prudent steps to prepare ourselves and our families. If you are in doubt on this point, check out Hebrews 11, also known as the faith chapter, and you will find that everyone in that chapter did something that demonstrated that they had a genuine saving faith.
Remember, we serve a God that can put fruit on trees and bushes overnight and out of season, a God that sees the beginning from the end (Revelation 22:13), and the God that provides for the needs of the birds (Luke 12:24) will provide for you, the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8).
Practical Steps to Freeze Fear in Its Tracks
Memorize Bible verses regarding trust in God/vanquishing fear. Recite these verses during the day and build up a spiritual stockpile of food. When you become fearful or anxious, recite these verses again. Realize that feelings come and go, but God’s love for you does not change and His promises still apply when we are obedient and put our trust in Him.
For an EXCELLENT list of Bible verses on this topic along with brief explanations of each promise, please check out this helpful article from Bibleinfo.com
Listen to positive, uplifting, mellow spiritual music.
Go to a quiet park or a country place and put the electronics on silent during that time. Enjoy the fresh air and take comfort in the fact that the God who keeps the birds in flight and the infinite universe suspended in space will take care of you.
Were you blessed by this post? Please feel free to subscribe to receive free blog updates in the future by putting your email address into the box at the top right of this page. If you think someone else could be blessed by this post, please share it with them! Until next time this has been John Erickson for Christian Country Living reminding you to Pray, Plan, and Prepare! We’ll see you next time!
