In a recent conversation with a sweet, sweet friend, she’s reminded me that God is at work - even in the small stuff. It amazes me that He would remind me who He is while arranging the small details of my life. Since Greg has gotten a job, we’ve spent many, many hours looking for a house to buy. I had no idea how picky I would be when it came to buying a house, but dang. There were probably only about a total of 3 out of hundreds, literally HUNDREDS, of homes we found online that I would actually agree to go and walk through with our realtor. It was a frustrating process, especially since the pictures online did not always prove to be the best representation of the house, AND Greg and I don’t share the same taste I’ve discovered. J
There was finally a house that we both absolutely loved, and so we took my parents to walk through it a second time with us before we made an offer. Come to find out, there was another couple interested in the house, and so both of our offers were presented to the seller at the same time. Now, I was so certain that this was the home for us. Both times we looked at it, I felt so comfortable there - like I was already at home. It met, and exceeded, all of the different criteria we were looking for in our first home, and it was the only house we had found that the BOTH of us loved. I just knew we were supposed to live there.
This process has been so exciting; we didn’t expect to be buying a house so soon, but since we were fortunate enough to begin the process, we jumped right in. It was so fun to picture our lives in each home we looked at; dream about a family and where we will be years down the road. And this house was the perfect location, with an elementary school right down the street, young neighborhood, and still close to the areas we love best in town.
Well, all of this to say, our offer didn’t win and the other couple got the house. I was so incredibly disappointed. I wanted to give up the search (because trust me it was stressful looking online at house after house after house after house after house after house…you get the point). I resolved that it just wasn’t time for us to buy a house, that it was some big sign, because I was so disappointed. The next week, we find a house online that Greg absolutely loved, and from the pictures, I just didn't like it. I wish I could be as pumped as he is about it, but just can't be. I moan and complain but he schedules an appointment to see it anyways, and I just kind of grudgingly go along with it. He tells me to have an open mind about it, I say I do...but really, I don’t.
Then when we finally did go to see it… I was blown away. This house was just awesome, and so perfect for us. It is even in the same neighborhood as the house we had originally wanted, but in a much better location - things are updated, the façade of the house is way better, there is an amazing deck and backyard…you get the point. Thinking about living in that first house was even funny at that point, because we love this house so much more. And I literally felt my heart being tugged by the Lord. Because isn’t that such a picture of how He works? You have it planned out, the way you think it should go, the way that seems and feels so perfect for you. When all of the sudden those plans are shattered, or things don’t go as expected, the disappointment can be so disheartening.
But my God, He loves to blow me away. He loves to prove that His way is best and beautiful regardless of ME. And I’m so grateful that He does that. That He not only moves in big ways, but that He cares even about the small stuff. Even when I think I am the happiest, He always shows me a greater, deeper, lasting joy that fills my heart until I feel I’m overflowing. I love knowing that even when I’m disappointed and discouraged that He is still at work, making beautiful things happen. He loves to show us how good He is. He loves to make us smile. Speaking of, check out the link to this song that has been making me smile a lot lately. And props to Brian Walton for rocking it!
http://www.youtube.com/user/UCCManhattan#p/u/3/A7KSHfPh0WU
