I grew up as an MK, which meant that I lived far away from all my relatives in the States. As a result, I never experienced the kinds of things that families do together: Sunday dinners, Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, shared vacations, and reunions. My parents tried to make up for it whenever we were on home assignment, but family visits were too short and far apart. 

On those rare occasions when I was surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, I felt an affinity and acceptance that I seldom experienced anywhere else. That is because God designed the human race to be divided into family units where each of us would grow up and get our sense of belonging.

But it doesn’t always work this way, does it? Some become orphans, while others are raised in dysfunctional homes. There is a myriad of reasons why families don’t provide the security and kinship that we need, and one of them is none other than physical distance. Even with modern technology, nothing replaces being together in the same room.

God knows we need to feel we belong – after all, He’s the one who created us that way. So let’s look at an incredible promise He made. One day, when Jesus and His disciples were discussing the kingdom of God, He told them that any family members they lost because of faith would be replaced, and then some.

By this, Jesus reassured His followers that they need not fear ever being alone – He would always provide a group of people where they could belong. Even if they lost their physical family, Jesus would replace them with a spiritual family. Isn’t that amazing? 

Going back to my example for a second, I can testify that I experienced what Jesus promised. My parents’ colleagues and every church we attended became my family. We enjoyed Sunday dinners, Christmas parties, weekend retreats, etc. I never felt lonely.

So, let’s not be afraid of leaving our loved ones behind. Not only will the Lord go with us, but He will provide a family for the journey.