by Eric A. Shelhart

Just a little over two years ago, my family and I were living in North Carolina. I had a great job working for a school district. I had wonderful friends, an amazing church, and moderate winters. One evening in October 2008 I received a phone call from a church in Ohio about a position opening for a media director.

At the time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave North Carolina. Things were good there. After much thought and prayer, we decided to apply for the position and leave the results in God’s hands. I was offered the job and knew it was where God was leading us. The one question I have been asked over and over again is, “Why?” Why leave a great job and work for a church? Why leave your friends and uproot your family? Why leave North Carolina and move to the cold winters of Northeast Ohio? The explanation is simple. It was the direction and the place where God was leading us!

In the first chapter of Ruth, Naomi told her two daughters-in-law to go back to their homes because there wasn’t a future where they were (Ruth 1:8-13). But Ruth didn’t want to go back to the way things were. She wanted to stay with Naomi, to follow Naomi’s God, and stay in this new land. She wanted to follow where God was leading her (Ruth 1:16-18).

Ruth did not know what was in store for her by staying with Naomi, but she knew it was where she was supposed to be.

When we said yes to God and to the move, we didn’t know what was in our future. But God knew. He knew what was in Ruth’s future and what was in our future and he would be there to take care of us.

Two years later, I know this is where God wanted us to be. I’m serving a great church and God is doing great things here. God wanted to use me and let me be a part of a wonderful family here in Northeast Ohio.

God used Ruth in amazing ways, and when you make the choice to follow his leading, he will use you in amazing ways too!

Eric A. Shelhart is Media Director at Greenford Christian Church in Salem, Ohio. Eric and his wife Rachelle have three sons: Rase 12, Elijah 9, and Ethan 5. Eric is Assistant Editor Sheryl Overstreet’s nephew.