9 years ago, we moved from the Channel Islands to the UK. During this time, my youngest sister and her husband graciously hosted us. We were house hunting. My husband had just gotten a job in one of the hospitals in the West Midlands. He was to resume in a couple of days. We were in desperate need of accommodation. My sister lived in a different city from the one where we were going to resume. It wasn’t possible to stay with them and do the inter-city commute.
We didn’t know anywhere in this place which was to be our new “home.” We also didn’t have friends resident there. So we went on Google searches. We read all we could about the city and then began our house hunt. We applied to house agents. As we searched for accommodation, we went for different viewings. None of them worked out. One evening, after one of our viewings, we returned to my sister’s house. We brought back a tired toddler and our weary minds and bodies. We brainstormed on what to do. We also looked up all the available houses on the rental market. As I got tired and anxious, my husband reassured me. He reminded me that God has never left us stranded. God would make a way. We prayed and continued with our search. Later that night, we found one we liked. We quickly filled the application for viewing. We traveled down to see it on schedule. We returned to our base, and then the agent contacted us. They said the house had been taken. It was so disappointing. We really liked the house. We liked the location, the neighborhood, and its proximity to schools and work.
In our disappointment, we bowed our hearts. We reminded ourselves that God was faithful to look after us. We knew He had good plans for us.
Few days later, with time inching closer, we got a call from the same house agent. He asked if we were still interested in the house. The lady who had taken it initially had to let it go. She needed to move closer to her mum who had taken ill. We couldn’t believe our ears. Of course we were still interested. I can’t express the gratitude, relief, joy and all the emotions we felt. We made the trip down. We looked at the house again. We signed the forms. In days, we picked the keys. The rest is history.
This experience is one that we’ve never forgotten as a couple. God is in the detail. He has good stored up for us. He cares so much for us. He marks out the boundary lines for our lives and situates us in pleasant places. It has remained a memorial for us as a family. We are reminded to invest our hope and trust in Him. We do this no matter the challenges we face. We always look back to it and look forward in faith, always confident of His good plans for our lives. If it doesn’t open, He has other plans.
I wanted to bring you this encouragement today. You are not forgotten. Where God has situated you is pleasant and beautiful and He has good in store. Don’t weary yourself out trying to make things happen in your own strength. As you trust Him, He will keep leading you in the pleasant paths He has prepared for you.
No matter what comes, we don’t have to waiver in faith but can confidently say like David
“ Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me. Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful”
Treasure in earthen vessels 