Over a period of several years, we had to find homes during several job moves to meet the growing needs of our family. Each move was a progressive experience in understanding what God had prepared for us. My husband had been transferred to a new town, where houses were priced far above our income—and there were few we could afford. We temporarily rented a house while the owners were vacationing for the summer, but soon they would be returning home. As I walked through the neighborhood, I often passed a small, cheery-looking yellow ranch-style house that was for sale, but I was doubtful about whether we could afford it—or anything else. Our bank book said otherwise.
Waking very early one morning before dawn, I prayed for divine direction, and was willing at that point to go wherever God led us. So when dawn arrived, I got into the car, drove several towns up, and was led to stop at a real estate office. It was about 7:00 a.m., and I was surprised to see lights on. When I went inside, an equally surprised realtor greeted me at that early hour. He said he had a house that might meet our needs and directed me back to the town where we were staying. Right to the yellow house! He helped us negotiate a fair price for both the seller and us. Living there was a wonderful experience, and over the years we were able to serve that community in various ways.
A verse in First Corinthians is full of expectation: “As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (2:9). This preparation unfolds, clarifies, discloses, and reveals His will, power, and presence.
