In this past year alone, I have thought more than once that moving out of my parents' home was an option. After all, I was an adult and even though I'm unmarried, I would much rather live away from all the problems I seem to encounter.
But as I worked through the problems one by one with my dear parents, the Lord showed me a parallel pattern with marriage. It is not uncommon these days to see many couples divorce after years of marriage or even a few months. Did the wife come up against a problem with her man and decide that he could not change so she must leave? Did the husband not get the honor he deserves and decide to end the agony in his heart by ending his union? In the same way, I was coming up against a problem and deciding that it was too much to handle; so I should just move out or, in all reality, run away from it.
But is that really the godly thing to do? God's Word teaches us to persevere, no matter what the cost. He never said, "If you don't think you can do it, just don't do it." He did, however, teach us that we cannot possibly fix the problem all on our own. That's why we have Him!
Lately I have noticed how some of the conservative Christian families are reverting to the modern way of doing things. Young people - regardless of their convictions or marital status - should get out and become their own person. They are encouraged to get their own place and maybe even start dating... it is as if their parents are afraid of being accused as being patriarchal or matriarchal. Of course, the newfangled Patriarchal movement has so many twisted views and doctrines that I definitely do not agree with.
Although the idea of staying home under your parents' roof may sound old-fashioned, it is Biblical. I realize that there are any number of situations where a girl would be forced to leave her family home. But if at all possible - don't run away from your troubles. Take them and run to the Father and ask Him what to do.
I am definitely an independent woman, yet I live with my parents and six siblings. I seek my parents' advice, but it is I who must make the final decision. We talk openly together about anything and everything; they are my best friends. They know me better than anyone else and I truly desire to honor them as my God-given authority for now. Just as Esther sought the advice of Mordecai, so I desire to seek my parents' advice and any other older, wiser mentors God puts in my path.
