Am I Still Called To California?

Scripture

10‘If you will still remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up. For I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought upon you. 11Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,’ says the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand. 12And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land.’  Jeremiah 42:10-12

Observation

The Israelites wanted to run from Judah and hide in Egypt.  They were certain that their fate would be the same as the others who had been taken captive to Babylon. They asked the prophet Jeremiah for direction from God and promised to do whatever He said. The truth is they had already decided to leave and wanted God’s blessing. They were certain that if they could just get to Egypt then they would “see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor be hungry for bread” (Jer. 42:14).  So, here God was telling them to stay when they wanted to run and they would not hear it.  They refused God’s seemingly irrational instructions, doubted His care for their future and ran for Egypt.  The very fear they were running from was what they were running to.  The best place to be is in the middle of God’s will even if it’s the last place we want to be.  If we make decisions out of fear rather than faith fear becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.  The outcome we try to avoid we actually accelerate and perpetuate- “the very war and famine you fear will catch up to you, and you will die there.” (Jeremiah 42:16)

Application

On Sunday our family drove back from Arizona to California and came across the familiar “Welcome To California” road sign covered with colorful orange poppies.  Despite the welcome sign many are leaving California in the rear view mirror.  When we first moved here from Hawaii over five years ago we were running in while many were running out. I would meet families at The Father’s House one month only to find out they were moving out of state the next month. When I read the headlines I couldn’t blame them. California looked like a dumpster fire with actual fire!  It would have been really easy to join the movement away from California and head to whatever version of Egypt looked appealing. This wasn’t  just hyperbole either.  From Big Tech companies like Tesla, Oracle, and Hewlett Packard to the average person weary of living in a place that was overpriced and under a government of overreach many were happily heading somewhere else.  From July 2019 to July 2020, 135,000 more people left the state than moved here. And that's only the 12th time that that's happened since 1900. This trend has only continued over the past few years. According to Census Bureau data, between July 2023 and July 2024, California experienced a net domestic migration loss of approximately 239,575 people—meaning nearly 240,000 more residents moved out than moved in.  I’m not saying, of course, that everyone who has moved out of California is in rebellion to the Lord.  I am saying, let’s stop and ask the Lord, am I still called to California?  If the answer is yes, then let’s stop letting the headlines lead us by fear.  Instead, let’s draw a line in the sand and say with a united conviction, “I’m not moving until God tells me to because I want to see a move of God right here in the heart of Babylon… and it starts in my heart.”  In fact, for those who have put down roots we are starting to see the fruit God promised. It was just a few weeks ago when the entire Oceanside Amphitheater was filled with worship, prayer, salvations and water baptisms during the Movement San Diego event. Just down the road on the same night God was moving in Huntington Beach.  The “California Will Be Saved” celebration resulted in close to 4000 gathered, over 100 salvations, 25 water baptisms and multiple confirmed physical healings. These headlines tell a different story of what God is up to in California—one of spiritual resurgence and renewal:

• Mass Baptisms at Huntington Beach – “Baptize California”

  
  

  In early May 2025, over 7,750 people were baptized in a single day at Huntington Beach—possibly the largest in U.S. history. Over two days, 12,000 people across the state were baptized as part of a unified faith movement involving over 300 churches. renewaljournal.comRNS

• Amid devastating wildfires in Southern California, Pastor Matthew Barnett of the Dream Center reported overwhelming spiritual openness—many arriving seeking prayer and encountering the gospel. CBN

• Greg Laurie noted 45,000 packed into Anaheim’s Angel Stadium for a Harvest Crusade in July 2025, with thousands responding to faith. There’s strong momentum among Gen Z and Millennials. Christian PostThe Lion

Prayer

Jesus, regardless of who is in political office here I know You are in control and You reign over California.  You called our family to California in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, racial unrest, and political upheaval.  You didn’t call us here to run in fear, but stand in prayer and watch You do wonders.  Between fight or flight there is a place of faith.  Between the headlines and the state line there’s a lifeline You’ve called us to be in the world around us.  Before Babylon falls let our faith rise to believe that You want do something new in the heart of every person we come across.  It starts with my heart Lord.  Dismantle my decision making matrix based on fear so that I will obey You and stay put even when I want to run.  For there is no better place to be than in the middle of Your will!

12Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. 13They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. Psalm 25:12-13