Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Peace that Passes Understanding

We had peace.

On January 30th, our house flooded and we still had peace.

In February, We told our temporarily displaced renters that we would release them from the lease agreement if they felt like they needed to move on, and we had peace.

At the end of February our renters took us up on the offer to be released from the lease. We still had not received any insurance money. We did not know if we should try to sell the house or if we should try to rent it again. We had not yet settled on a contractor. We had no idea how to navigate this mess from across the ocean, but we had peace.

In March some dear friends offered to help us. We found a trustworthy contractor. The repairs began BEFORE we received the insurance money, even though we could not pay the contractor a cent. The insurance check (despite multiple attempts on our part to prevent this foreseen possibility) was sent to the wrong address, returned to Florida, and finally resent to the right address. All the while, we were at peace.

In April the work was going to be completed, and we began to discuss ways that we might advertise our house as a rental. We had no idea how to find potential renters and how to arrange showings. We scratched our heads, scoured the Internet, and prayed. We did nothing. We felt an overwhelming sense of peace.

Last week, a woman who works for the city of Spangle e-mailed us to ask about the completion date of our home. She told us that a friend of hers was looking for a home to rent in the area. We had peace. And hope.

On Saturday, the work on our house was completed. While the last of the dust was being wiped from my kitchen cupboards, this friend of our contact at the city of Spangle came to look at the house. She liked it, and submitted an application. We had peace. And hope. And complete and utter amazement at the hand of God.

On Monday we ran background checks, credit checks, and called references. On Monday night we notified this woman that we were pleased to accept her application. Her response was, "Oh goodness, we are so excited!  The kids and I will love living at this house!...What a blessing." Peace.

May 1st,  our newly restored home will be occupied. In our peon brains, we had hoped and prayed for the house to be rented by June 1st, but God exceeded our expectations. Again. 

And we are at peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7

2 comments:

  1. God is faithful when we have renters and while we are waiting, and while we don't. We have to keep trusting regardless out the outcome.

    ReplyDelete
  2. How wonderful! Our God really does give us great peace when we leave it to Him. :)

    ReplyDelete

 
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