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Moving is never easy. It can disrupt our routines, pull us away from friends, and fill us with uncertainty. Yet sometimes, we know deep down that we’re being called to move. In 1999, my family and I left the comfort of close friendships in Florida and stepped into the unknown of Greenville, SC. We didn’t know anyone, but we believed God was leading us there to help bring Cursillo to life in the upstate. It was challenging, but we trusted His plan. In many ways, I believe God calls all of us to move—but not always in the way you might think. Find out what I mean in today’s message.

In Mark 8:22-26, Jesus did something remarkable. He took a blind man by the hand and led him away from the crowd, out of the village. There, in that quiet, personal moment, He restored the man’s sight. But what happened next is just as intriguing. Instead of sending him back home to celebrate, Jesus gave him a curious command: “Do not even go into the village.” Why would Jesus say that? What deeper lesson is hidden in His words? That’s what we’re unpacking in today’s message.

In biblical times, blindness wasn’t just a physical condition; it symbolized a deeper spiritual reality. And if we’re honest, sin leaves all of us a little blind. But here’s the good news: Jesus longs to heal us. However, His healing comes with a challenge; He doesn’t want us to return to the same old ways, the same environment that kept us in darkness. He calls us to move.

What kind of move am I talking about? Not just a physical one, but a spiritual shift—a transformation that allows us to see through the eyes of Christ. Let me explain.

For many of us, our “village” represents our old way of thinking, our bad habits, our sins, and our past failures. It may even represent the people, places, and influences that keep pulling us back into the same destructive patterns. Just as Jesus led the blind man away before healing him, sometimes God calls us to step out of our familiar surroundings so He can work in our lives.

Perhaps our village is a deep-seated resentment that we refuse to let go of. Maybe it’s a habit or addiction that keeps us spiritually blind. It could be a fear that holds us back from trusting God completely. Whatever it is, Jesus is calling us to move away from what keeps us spiritually stagnant and toward a deeper relationship with Him.

Moving is rarely comfortable. It requires faith. Abraham had to leave his homeland and step into the unknown when God called him (Genesis 12:1). The Israelites had to leave Egypt before they could reach the Promised Land. Even the disciples had to leave behind their nets, their jobs, and their old lives to follow Jesus.

And just like them, we, too, must move.

So how do we move?

• Recognize where we are stuck. Ask God to reveal the areas in our life that keep us from growing spiritually. What are we holding on to that He wants us to leave behind?
• Trust God’s direction. Even when we don’t know where He is leading, we need to trust that His plans for us are good. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.
• Take action. Faith requires movement. We cannot stay in the same place and expect change. Whether it’s breaking free from a bad habit, reconciling a broken relationship, or stepping out in faith to serve God in a new way—we must move forward.
• Surround ourselves with the right people. If our village is full of influences that pull us away from God, we must find a new community that encourages us in our faith.
• Keep our eyes on Jesus. The enemy will try to lure us back to our old ways, just as the Israelites were tempted to return to Egypt. But fixing our eyes on Christ will keep us moving forward.

Where is God calling us to move today? Maybe it’s time to finally let go of a sin that has held us captive. Maybe it’s time to forgive someone who hurt us. Maybe it’s time to step into a calling we have been resisting. Whatever it is, we don’t want to stay where we are.

Jesus healed the blind man and told him not to return to his village. Today, Jesus wants to heal us too. He wants us to leave our “village” behind and move. Will we? The season of Lent is an ideal to move. Let’s pack our bags and go!

Heavenly Father, moving is never easy but I know in my heart that Jesus is calling me to move away from the sinful areas in my life. Heal any areas of blindness in my life. Help me to see those things in my life that are offensive to you. Lead me to where you want me to go. Give me the courage to place all of my trust in you.  Amen!

AMDG 

Important Note

I need your help for an upcoming Prison Retreat!

  I rarely ask for money to support this ministry. Today is an exception. At the request of an inmate who wrote me a letter to tell me how his life was changed by the book The Broken Door, on April 24th I will be putting on a retreat for the inmates at SCI Rockview Prison in Pennsylvania. Our ministry is bearing all of the expense associated with this event. Costs include transportation costs, hotel costs, plus the cost of 200 books for the inmates. Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”  Through your generosity you will help make an impact in the lives of these inmates. We need to raise the money within 3 weeks. Click here to make a donation. Thank you!

 I always love to hear from our readers. You can email me by clicking here.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts about today’s message below.

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Brian Pusateri

Brian is a Christian author and speaker. Brian, a lifelong Catholic, felt his life was forever changed when God spoke to his heart while attending an eight day silent Christian retreat in November of 2011. Soon after that retreat Brian founded 4th Day Letters and Broken Door Ministries. With the God inspired message of mercy and unconditional love that was placed on his heart during that retreat, Brian has been impacting others all over the country and around the world with his weekly letters, his talks, and his all day Christian retreats. In June of 2014, Brian’s life was again impacted in a very dramatic way when his eyesight suddenly became permanently impaired. The initial diagnosis was Multiple Scleroses (MS) but in December of 2019 the diagnosis was corrected to MOG antibody disease, a rare neurological disease. This health challenge has only served to draw Brian closer to God and bolster the importance of this timely yet ageless message.

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