"Then the Lord said to Jacob, 'Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you'" (Genesis 31:3).

God's first step to move us from one experience or place to another is to put a desire deep within us. As God prepared Jacob to move back to the Land of Promise, the first thing He did was give him a desire.

David wrote, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). This doesn't necessarily mean God will give you whatever little feeling you have in your heart. You shouldn't act on every desire you have, but when you delight yourself in the Lord, your desires will be those God has planted.

The next step is to pay attention to your life's circumstances. When the Lord puts a desire in your heart, it must be confirmed. Jacob's circumstances—jealousy, accusations, lies—were unfavorable. They confirmed what he'd felt in his heart.

When things turn sour in life, we're often quick to complain, "God can't be in this!" Don't be so sure. The Lord might be saying, "You've been praying that something would change in your life. You got fired and you need a new job. So I'm gonna give you a new job." When unfavorable circumstances arise, maybe the Lord is stirring things up to move you along.

Listen for the Lord’s voice: "Then the Lord said to Jacob" (v. 3). God's voice confirmed what Jacob had already sensed in his heart and what his circumstances were pointing to. When life takes a sour turn, it may be God preparing to bring a sweet blessing just around the corner. So don't complain—instead, ask, "What opportunities might God be opening if I trust Him and move forward?" And most importantly, stay grounded in His Word.

The fourth principle is to get confirmation from God's family. Jacob was smart; he conferred with his wives (see vv. 4-13). Rachel and Leah felt they had both been sold, and they knew their father had spent their dowry, so they said, "Whatever God has said to you, do it" (v. 16).

Jacob was mistreated by his employer, his own father-in-law. But he didn't level a complaint. He appealed to God and God took care of him. If you want to live your life on the world's level, God will let you. But it's a miserable way to live. The most exciting way to live is to simply trust God.

Maybe you’re facing unfavorable, unpleasant circumstances in life. You’ve been praying for God to move powerfully—but instead, things seem to be going the opposite direction. Sometimes, those very circumstances may be part of how God is answering your prayer. He may be placing something on your heart, aligning your situation with that desire, and preparing to speak through His Word and confirm it through His people.

The Bible says, "But in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14). Seek counsel. Not the kind you have to pay fifty bucks a session for, but from God's family—the body of Christ. Run it by someone who has maturity and insight and then weigh it all together.

Could it be that God has been moving you closer to Him? If you've been sort of meandering through life, not really walking with God, maybe God has been moving things in your life to get your attention. If you haven't committed your life to Christ, maybe God has been bringing you to that place of surrender.

Now would be a good time to do that.