Great is Thy Faithfulness (Part 1)

I thought about posting one giant blog post when this whole ordeal is over, but I've started to wonder if I'd remember every unbelievable detail, and i've decided I'd better tell this story as it unfolds.

Over the last few months, Christopher and I have been praying about where we were supposed to be.  We love being in Chattanooga for a few reasons, but we both have known that this wasn't exactly where we belong right now.  While we both were praying for direction, my specific prayer had been that when we came to the conclusion about where we were to be, that we would know at the same time; i didn't want either one of us having to convince the other that a certain place was right- i wanted both of us to have confirmation individually and simultaneously.

Well, we did.  A series of events (including this pregnancy) left us both really considering our family's future, and on the same day, at almost exactly the same time, we both came to the conclusion that Mobile was where God was directing us.  This was a tough decision for both of us- not only did it mean moving away from our family in Chattanooga- it meant going through the seemingly impossible process of selling our home.  Still, we decided we would at least take the first step.  Christopher told me that the first thing he thought we should do (even before listing our house) was making sure that we had a place in Mobile that we would be able to live in the unlikely event that our house sold.  The same day we decided that this was our first step, a dear friend of our family let me know that her mom's house was vacant and that they would love someone to occupy it.  I was amazed at the simplicity of this first step.  I kept thinking of the verse, "Now unto Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20). This open door definitely seemed like confirmation that this decision was the right one, but we were still praying that if it was right, that doors would continue to open, but if this wasn't right, that we would face roadblocks that would let us know that we weren't moving in the right direction.  We knew that the only way we would discover if doors were opening or closing for us was if we pursued the next step- the scariest step- of attempting to sell our house.

When we first moved to Chattanooga, I interned at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and met a precious lady who was a realtor.  I had forgotten that this was her profession, but when Christopher and I were talking about beginning the selling process, he mentioned that I should give her a call.  I sent her an email, and the next day she called me and said that she had gotten my email, that she was doing more referrals than real estate sales, and that the night before, she and her husband had both prayed about who would be the best real estate agent for us to use as we sold our house.  Both she and her husband had individually decided on the same person.  I felt completely confident using the lady to whom she referred us, and once we met her, I knew we were on the right path to selling our house- even if it took a year.  Cheryl, the agent we have had the privilege of working with, warned us of the reality of selling (or not selling) a house in this market.  She wasn't discouraging- in fact, quite the opposite- but we knew that IF we found someone who was interested in buying, that there was a good chance that they would have a lot of trouble being approved for a loan.  Unfortunately, she said, there wasn't any other way to avoid that unless the buyer could make a cash offer, which never happens.

Bear with me, there is a point to all of these details!

Finally, on a Wednesday evening, we listed our house on the market.  Thursday I got a phone call letting me know that someone wanted to view our house.  Cheryl told me that as she was printing out our listing, another agent in her office walked by and saw the listing.  He said he had a couple coming the next day from out of town, and he thought this was exactly what they'd been searching for months to find.  After hours of cleaning and tons of praying, the couple arrived Friday afternoon.  We left for a CBMC conference on Saturday, and hadn't heard any feedback from the viewing.  On Sunday, Cheryl called us and told us that they wanted to make an offer - and honestly, even though we had been praying for this, I hadn't REALLY considered that God would answer our prayers with a "Yes."  I kept thinking of the verse "if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." I was faithless, He was faithful.  I'm sad to say that this is too true too often.  I'd say that this was one of those "far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" answers!

So, Monday we received the official offer.  After a couple of counters and a lot of calculations, we settled at a number that Christopher and I had prayed about- the exact number that allowed us to break even on our purchase- literally down to the dollar.  So within a week of listing our house, we got an offer.  Within two weeks, the purchase agreement had been signed.  And it was as if God was saying, "NOTHING is impossible for Me," because the couple buying our house is capable of paying cash.  This detail really wouldn't (and doesn't) matter to me, except that this was one of those "can't happen" things - right up there with selling a house in today's market in a neighborhood FULL of other unsold listings.  He can move mountains and part seas - and He can orchestrate an entire scenario to cause an unlikely house to sell in a terrible market.

It doesn't stop there, but for now, I think it should.  There is and will be plenty more to tell, but this post is long enough. :)

One last thing... I know that to some people, the concept of being led or directed by God to make a huge, life altering decision sounds silly - irresponsible, even.  But the truth is, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is totally right, completely ordained by Him and very much a picture of His specific plan being carried out in our lives.  We haven't always been obedient, and we are sure to make mistakes along the way, but I feel confident that the "abundantly more than we ask or think" will be fleshed out not just in our circumstances but in our hearts.  I'm already seeing evidence of that.

All of this takes me back to the song that Kathryn sang at our wedding, and I am sure of this: If there is a theme of our marriage and of our move and of our lives - it is "Grace Alone."