While We Waited . . .

Remember last week's post? 

I am utterly amazed at God's goodness and His perfection.  I wrote that post in the early afternoon last Wednesday.  Shortly after, I checked craigslist just to see what was out there, and I saw that there was an acreage for sale by owner. 

We called the homeowner at 4:00 that afternoon and went to see it at about 5:30.  The moment we walked in the door, everything became clear - this was without a doubt where God has had us all along.  Not only is the house everything we need, but God has provided us with many of our "wants" as well.  All new appliances, a master bathroom, a heated garage, 2 acres in a very ideal location . . . and the list goes on.

We signed an agreement on Friday, and are currently in the process of buying this house.  What's also neat is that the homeowners were unexpectedly called by their church to move to New Mexico and are en route even as I write, so having the house sold was a huge blessing to them.  We actually felt as though if they were to stick around the area, we might have become friends.

I'm sure there will be many pictures and further explanation to follow as we begin moving and settling in to this beautiful home.  For now, I just wanted to update everyone on the perfect timing of God and His provision while we were waiting!

Throughout this whole process of moving, we have clung to Proverbs 16:9 - "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."  How thankful we are!

While We're Waiting

Do you ever ask God what He's doing?  Or why He's doing it? 

What a roller coaster we have been on lately, all while wondering, "God, what are you doing??"  As most of you probably know, we felt God's leading of our family away from our home of 5 years and back to David's hometown in late September last year.  And boy, has it been a roller coaster of emotions and experiences ever since!

We moved over here December 30 - Rachel's 2-week birthday - and have been living with David's parents ever since.  We've been keeping our eyes open for places to live all along; since our ultimate goal is to move to a family farm, we've also been hoping to rent for cheap or to find a home that we could purchase for very little so we could continue to build a savings.

Last weekend, we made the big decision to go ahead and buy a home, so we contacted or agent and she showed us several places in our price range.  To make a long story short, by Saturday noon we had found a home in town that we loved . . . and we found a rental house in the country that would be well under our budget.

 For the past several days, it has really seemed like all signs were pointing toward us getting the rental.  We started preparing for that particular house, and making plans to paint and move within the next month.  We kind of convinced ourselves that we shouldn't buy the house in town, and that God has had this rental for us all along.  The timing and events were just too perfectly aligned.

Today David got a shocking phone call.  The rental has gone to someone else. 

So, God, what are you up to?  We're just not sure.

I am reminded of a song by John Waller -

While I'm Waiting

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on you, Lord,

And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on you, Lord

Though it is painful, but patiently, I will wait.

I will move ahead bold and confident

I'll be taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting, I will serve you

While I'm waiting, I will worship

While I'm waiting, I will not faint

I'll be running the race even while I wait 

 I'm waiting, I'm waiting on you, Lord

And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on you, Lord

Though it's not easy, but faithfully, I will wait

I will serve you while I'm waiting,

I will worship while I'm waiting on you, Lord

It is easy to feel discouraged, like we had built ourselves up for nothing. My tendency is to sit and stew about why my own plans didn't work out, and worry about whether we'll ever have our own house again.

But instead, we see this as a reminder (and we had forgotten) that God is truly working in His timing.  He will provide how and when He sees fit, just as He always has.

Until then, we will wait, and pray, and just keep running the race!