Answered Prayers

We’ve been searching for a house since April.  We moved to Florida in August.  We’ve made several offers and even gotten a couple, but none of them have worked out.  At church on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we were reading Matthew 21:22, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  We were discussing if this meant when you ask God for something, he will give it to you or if it just means that when you ask him for something and it’s in His will that he will give it to you.  We leaned towards the latter because if I asked God for something ridiculous like a brand new expensive car, why should I expect to get it – I would have no way to pay for it and no one would just give me one.

I’ve been praying for a house for while and I’ve been praying to just know whether or not we’re supposed to even buy a house here (we’re only here while Patrick completes his doctorate).  I hadn’t felt like my prayers had been answered one way or another.  We kept looking for houses and we kept not getting them.  Every time we gave up on the house search and looked for a place to rent, it had either already been rented (like that hour) or they didn’t allow large dogs.

On Thanksgiving, I phrased my prayer a little differently.  I asked, “God I’m asking – if it’s in Your will, please let us find a house soon.  I trust that things will work out.  Romans 8:28 says, ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'”  And for the first time I really believed it.  I do trust in God.  I know that He only has my best interests at heart {even if I can’t see it at the time}.

We found a house a couple weeks ago that seemed perfect.  It was not as new as many of the homes on the market (just a few years older), it was in the town over from where we had been looking, the owners had bought it as a foreclosure and remodeled it, the price was a lot lower than the ones we had been looking (we upped our price range to have a better selection), it was the right size, it had a good floor plan, etc, etc.  Of course there was a problem though.  The house had not been owned long enough to qualify for FHA financing (weird 90 day rule).  It wouldn’t be 90 days until Dec. 2.  We would have to wait nearly 2 weeks and hope no one else would buy it (no one using FHA could so that eliminated some buyers until the 2nd).  We saw the house on Tuesday Nov 29, loved it, and made an offer.  The seller’s agent said the only offers they had gotten were way too low.  We weren’t even messing with anything and were offering asking price.  They accepted our offer “officially” on Friday, the 2nd.  I finally feel like we have a house.  {As I’m typing this, our loan person just called and my heart skipped a beat…all is fine…she just needed something.}  With that said, the only hurdles we have are inspections, appraisal, and loan.  There shouldn’t be a problem with any of these, but I’m still going to keep praying and praising.

I still don’t completely know what the future holds, but I trust God and know everything will be all right.

What about you?  Is there anything on your mind today?

Blessings to you friend,