Two steps forward, two steps back?
Sarah and I have news to share about our house-buying journey that may seem disappointing or confusing, but instead, we see as a testimony to God's goodness in our lives. As always, thank you for your prayers and company on this journey. To say the least, it's been different than we expected.
An Unexpected Turn
In late March, we shared the exciting news that we finally found the house we thought was right for us. We made a successful offer (our first officially), had the house inspected, signed the Purchase and Sale, put down thousands of dollars in deposits, and applied for a loan. As we shared this with friends and family, many people told us how happy they were for us. We felt a growing excitement with you, believing that this could be the house that God had for us.
Then in the next few weeks as we anticipated the purchase and our move, both Sarah and I felt a growing unease about living in this house - our spirits were simply unsettled. When we finally shared our hearts with each other (we both kept it to ourselves for a while), we decided to spend a focused time in fasting and prayer for discernment. While the house was in a good location for ministry and had great financial potential, we didn't have peace about how it would meet the needs of our family. After praying and seeking counsel, we came to believe that this was not the house God had for us. No sooner had we decided this than it felt like a heavy burden was lifted from our shoulders. We even had several close friends and family respond to our decision with a kind of "I was thinking that, too." The peace that God gave us - especially after we had come this far - only confirmed this decision in our hearts.
Providing a Way Out
Even though we are disappointed that we will not be moving soon (we have had a mountain of packed boxes in our bedroom for 9 months), we are praising God for providing a way out! Not only were we rescued from buying a house that would not be right for our family, we were also able to retrieve all $5,000 in deposits! We're not quite sure why God led us through this process, but we trust that it was not in vain, and that He will continue to be faithful. The theme of our lives recently seems to be, It doesn't really make sense, but that's okay - God has a plan!
Where do we go from here?
We still believe God has a house for us, and we are patiently waiting. We know the housing market, what kind of property we are looking for, and (a lot) more about the buying process. And these are all statements we could not make a year and a half ago when we started this journey. For the most part, we will be taking a break from active house-hunting during the summer to focus on The Boston Project's summer programs. Please continue to pray that God will provide direction, peace, and patience. Also pray for our continued ministry where we live now - life and ministry do not take breaks until we find where we are going.
Thank you for praying. We are so grateful for you!
