“They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
I find myself in a waiting place. We are trying to sell our house. My words when I put it on the market, “It will sell when God wants it to sell.”
A week went by, 2 weeks, a month, 2 months…I don’t find my strength renewed, I’m definitely not soaring like an eagle. I don’t like being in the waiting place. I want to get on with our plans, move on, change our circumstances…be somewhere else. I’m tempted to manipulate God, to get Him to work in my time, not His.
Expecting the house to sell quickly, I stepped aside from all my outside responsibilities. I consider jumping back in, and yet, God calls for me to wait. It’s not easy.
What am I learning while I wait for God to bring the right person for our house?
1. It’s not all about me.
God has a plan not only for my life but for the people around me. This process of waiting allows me the opportunity for a new perspective. I drive by other houses on the market and pray for them because I understand the stress of trying to sell. When I see one that has a sold sign on it, I suppress the “what about mine?” and thank God that the house sold.
He freed me from obligations and duties, allowing me to minister and encourage the people now in my life. When we move, those opportunities will be gone. My friends mean a lot to me and I need to let them know as often as I can.
2. There are things in my life that need to go.
We have lived in this house for 21 years and we collected a lot of stuff. Some of it belonged to our children, some were gifts and a lot we bought for one purpose or another. Our places of storage hold a lot of things we no longer use.
As we plan to move to a smaller place, we need to downsize to accommodate our new place and empty nest lifestyle. We trashed those things that are broken and cannot be repaired…recycling as much as possible. We gave away or sold many items, finding new homes for things that gave us joy and now will bring joy to others.
3. Being ready takes daily commitment and inspection.
Before we put the house on the market, we repaired, painted and cleaned from top to bottom, going over everything carefully to make sure it all works and looks good. That initial push got the house ready, but as each day passes we continue to clean and inspect, keeping it ready for anyone who plans to come and see.
It’s true that my house will sell in the Lord’s perfect time not mine. My strength is renewed as I look to Him. I soar each time I meet a friend. The walking and running? I’m still learning to be content as I wait.
TRICIA LATHROP 