It’s been a quiet year on the blog. For reasons I don’t know, the words didn’t come. Life, on the other hand, has been a series of unanticipated twists and turns. You see, my husband and I felt led to sell our home. In my heart, I knew we were headed to a new place. Yet, the door of opportunity was not opening. Days away from closing on our old house, we signed a lease on an apartment only blocks away. Confused and desperate, I prayed, “Lord, did I do something wrong? Is this punishment? I did not expect to be moving here, and I don’t understand.” I didn’t hear anything in my heart, but later that day, I read this Proverb:
“Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.” Proverbs 24:27 (NLT)
It was the answer I needed. This six month lease was not punishment; it was preparation.
Skip ahead to today, I am still in the apartment, days away from renewal. Tyler and I have tried to find a good way out. Should I get a job? Should we just buy another house? Should we look for opportunities elsewhere? Despite every attempt, our efforts have fallen flat. No doors have opened, but the LORD continues to reassure my heart: something good is on its way; don’t lose hope; don’t fear; rest and wait.
Yesterday, after a great conversation with my mom, a thought dropped in my mind: the way through the wilderness was a gift to the Israelites–a safe place of preparation, readying them for the abundance to come. (Notice I said safe, not comfortable.) You see, even if they’d tried, the Israelites could never grow a crop in the wilderness. There was no water. Instead, every day, they had to lean and rely on the power, grace, and faithfulness of their Father. They had to learn (not head acknowledgment, but heart revelation) that apart from Him, they could do nothing. And so do I.
“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)
While I usually share my life when the chapter has closed and all can be told, today I needed to declare my hope. God is a faithful Provider and His promises are always “Yes” and “Amen.” I don’t need to toil or fear, for when the time is right, my door of opportunity will open. When it does, I’ll know that it was not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit. (Zechariah 4:6)
To be continued…
Kaime
“Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” Psalm 27:13-14 (NLT)
