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I was just about to go and find an old blog to post today. I’ve said it before but there is so much going on in my heart and mind that I struggle at times to lasso any of it and put it into words you could appreciate.
But as I began to type in my administrator’s page for my blog I felt nudged to update you on our journey through selling our home.
We put our home on the market on December 7th after what felt like much prompting from the Lord. If someone would’ve asked me about it a week prior I would’ve said they were nuts. One minute I couldn’t fathom putting our house on the market and 48 hours later there was a sign in our front yard. It was weird really to feel such urgency. Without overthinking it, Mark and prayed and trusted and moved forward. All the while, we experienced overwhelming peace.
In the beginning, a few thoughts continually ran through my mind (that I felt were put there by the Lord). They were:
I’m saying “Yes.”
I know the timing is unusual.
I will bring the buyer.
Don’t stress over this process bc I’m in full control.
And one more thing…
It won’t be cut and dry. Just trust.
I had such a shot in the arm from the many ways God was working and confirming that this was His plan, that I answered with a sounding, “Your will be done!”
I naturally began to assume how this might play out. One week turned into several. All the while I wondered…
“How do we do Christmas?”
“What about gift-giving when we probably need to be saving every dime?”
With Christmas a week away and no showings, we finally decided to just go ahead and celebrate but be mindful of the possibilities ahead. I found myself running through what the plan might be and when God might step in. I wondered every morning, “God, is today the day? Will the buyer come today?”
On December 23rd, after much silence, we received a request for a showing. A couple wanted to come and see our house on CHRISTMAS EVE! I didn’t know if they were crazy or if it was a sign…maybe they were God’s buyers?
We scrambled to clean up the wrapping paper and last minute projects. The timing was way less than favorable. But they came and really liked our home. The realtor told us it was their favorite home so far. We began to get excited.
They left that day and we really hoped we would hear from them again. New Years Eve they presented us with an offer. For those of you who have sold your home, did you immediately become sentimental when an offer was on the table. Did you begin to reminisce and get a little sad? I did.
My heart sank when we saw how low the offer was…way below our asking price. It’s funny how you feel protective of your home when people don’t see it’s value.
We countered back and forth with them several times and every time we did, I wondered how any of this felt like “God’s buyers.” It just didn’t feel right but we continually asked God to work it all out with them and for them to agree with us on a price. On New Years day they rescinded their offer and walked away. I felt exhausted from all the negotiating.
After we received that phone call, I spend a few minutes surrendering my will once again to God’s plan. It was hard.
“God, what happened?”
“God, why did they walk?”
“God, why didn’t this work out?”
In my heart I felt Him say loud and clear, “They weren’t MY buyers.”
Later we found that because they saw us put up our house so close to Christmas they figured we needed to get out quick and wanted to see how low they could go. When they saw we weren’t willing to rush into things, they walked away. God had actually protected us from a bad decision we were close to making.
Friends, my days have been filled with learning to surrender and learning to focus on a Kingdom perspective. Since things aren’t happening in my preferred timeline, I’m forced to step back and figure out what really matters most of all. This is an exercise I perform literally many times each day.
Where is my heart?
What do I want most of all?
What determines my peace and contentment?
Paul was the great role model to exhibiting contentment in Christ alone. He said in Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
In Kingdom terms it doesn’t matter whether I am in this house, the house we are hoping to buy, or somewhere in between. These things are necessary at times but may mean very little even 50 years from now.
Honestly this process has really helped to build my perspective and my heart for God and His Kingdom.
In fact, I’ll share with you one lesson He has taught me in the waiting. Mark and I have been totally resigned to trust God with the outcome of the sale of our house. And we are pretty good at daily surrendering to His timing in this. HOWEVER, with the house on the market, we’ve had to keep things clean and ready for a possible showing. Since our schedules can get crazy and we are often running to this and that, with three teens in the house, this is no easy task.
I have found myself complaining about this particular of the assignment. I tend to get gruff with the kids and give lectures about dirty plates left on the counter and beds left un-maid.
One day, I was in drill seargent mode and God said, “Tammy, you say you’re surrendered to My plan. But, your heart in daily assignments is just as important as the outcome. I not only want you to have joy in the outcome, but I want you to have joy in the moments too. You’ve been very grumpy.”
I felt so convicted. I’d never thought about how finding daily joy in what God has put before us also brought God delight. I’m grateful to have learned this lesson and I have remembered it every day since. .jpg)
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Not long ago, I was straightening up the realtor papers on our sofa table in the living room and a rock from Mark’s office side table had found it’s way to the top of the stack of papers. I honestly don’t know how it got there but what a timely message it spoke to me! It says, “Just Trust.” I painted those words on the rock 2 years ago while on vacation and Mark has been encouraged by it many times since then. Now, I was reminded to trust the Lord.
So, here we are. House is still on the market. We haven’t checked to see where the other house stands: whether it’s under contract or still available. We figure there’s no need to concern ourselves with that until God moves us beyond the waiting. And He will be there when we face whatever comes next. We simply need to “just trust.”
Last week, when it had turned into a month of waiting and questions, I sat in my prayer closet and said, “God, You know we want what You want. You know we want to follow You and trust Your plan. But why did we feel such urgency to put our house on the market just in time for the Christmas season if You weren’t planning on sending the buyer until…well…until You do? Did we hear You wrong? Was this all in our heads?”
Want to know His response?
“This is why.”
“…all that I’m doing in the waiting.”
Have you ever had God take you to places you don’t understand so. that. He. can. teach. you. to. understand?
Have you ever had God take you to places you don’t understand so. that. He. can. teach. you. to. understand?
In case you’re wondering, we are not begging God for a buyer, or for answers, or to “hold the other house for us.” We are simply asking God to give us faith to be obedient. We are asking Him to have His perfect way. We want to have less of a hold on the things of this world and more of a hold on Him.
Maybe you need to hear this today. Perhaps God is using an earthy trial you don’t understand to bring you to deeper spiritual understanding. Let Him have His way. Choose to “just trust.”
22 Samuel 22:31
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
