The House I Wanted vs. the Home God Gave Us
For me, a home represented more than walls and square footage. It meant stability. Safety. Our own place.
We began searching for a home in 2023, believing it would be a quick transition, not realizing it would become a two year journey of faith. After my husband retired from the military, we rented an apartment for several years and later spent two more years living with family. During that time, I could sense spiritually that the world was shifting. Things felt heavier, louder, and more chaotic. God had been speaking to me about preparation both spiritually and physically. I knew our next move would not be another apartment. I felt strongly that our next move would be into a home, and that it would be ours.
I believed God could do it. Truly. I believed that if He wanted to give us a million dollar home, He could. My faith was big. I trusted Him as provider and protector. God had proven Himself over and over again to me and my family. My heart’s desire was simple but deep. I wanted each of my children to have their own room. My girls had shared a room for seven years, and that mattered to me. I also love space. I love hosting. I love family gatherings, fellowship, and having room for family to stay the night. So yes, I had a list.
I wanted a five to six bedroom home, no less than three thousand square feet and ideally closer to five thousand. I have three kids. I wanted a gourmet kitchen, four to five bathrooms, office space, and room to breathe. And honestly, we saw homes that checked every box. Homes that made me say wow. But if I am being honest, those were natural wows, not spiritual ones. I am a feeler. When I walk into a space, I discern the atmosphere. I know when something feels like home. And even though those houses looked beautiful, I did not feel that warm, settled, hugged by God feeling.
I was forcing the excitement because it matched what I liked. At the same time, I had already told God and mentioned to my husband that there was a particular area I did not want to live in. We had lived there years before due to the military, and since then it had been said that crime had increased significantly. I was adamant about not going back, so we searched everywhere else. That is when the frustration set in.
The homes we liked required large upfront closing costs that did not fit our budget. While I knew God could provide, I also felt the tension of stewardship. Just because God can does not always mean He wants us to stretch ourselves in ways that are not wise for the season we are in. Naturally, the numbers did not make sense. And I knew this move was not just about a house. It was about ministry. About assignment. God cared about our comfort, but the priority was His will and purpose.
In September 2024, while driving, the Lord spoke to me clearly. He said, I have released your home. I thanked Him. I praised Him. I thought, This is it. This is what I have been waiting for. But nothing changed right away. The months that followed were hard. Zillow listings that checked every box homes I got excited about and wanted to tour would go pending that same week. Advice came from all directions. Well meaning, loving advice, but still noise. I questioned myself. Did I really hear God? If He released the house, why is this so difficult?
By August 2025, we were facing another decision. If we did not find a home soon, the next option was renting again. My husband suggested signing a lease and waiting another year, at least so our daughter, who was a senior in high school, could graduate. Naturally, that made sense. But something in my spirit felt off. I could not fully explain it. I just knew what God had already said, and I did not want to move ahead of Him. That is when I realized something uncomfortable. It was not that God was not moving. It was that I had not fully surrendered.
I had told God what I wanted and what I did not want. Even though I trusted Him and knew He could do what He said He would, I had placed limits of my own. In doing so, we searched everywhere but got nowhere, because I had quietly closed the door on what God wanted to do. And so I repented. I told God that wherever He sent us, we would go. That this was not about my preferences, but His will. I let it go.
Two weeks before it was time to sign the apartment lease, I felt in my spirit that God was leading us to look again in North Carolina this time near the area I had said I did not want to live. I asked my husband if we could go one more time, and if we did not find anything, I would leave it alone. His mind was made up. It felt easier to sign the lease after searching for two years, and even he was exhausted.
Even though my husband had originally said we were not going, the day we were supposed to sign the apartment lease in October, we found ourselves heading north. No pressure. No debate. Just alignment. I know it was God. That is when everything shifted. What had been stressful suddenly became easy. Conversations flowed. The process felt light. What once felt heavy unfolded with grace. When God moves and when it is His timing, things do not have to be stressful. It really can feel as easy as breathing.
It did not take long to find the home. There were three houses we planned to see, and of course we prayed beforehand. The first one was an immediate no. Deep breath, deep breath. Don’t get anxious, I told myself, knowing there were only two left before heading back to South Carolina.
When we walked into the next home, even though it was still being built and wasn’t projected to be completed until November 28, I felt it immediately. This is our home! I looked at my husband with excitement. He had a calm look on his face, but I could tell he was impressed. That was what the Lord had said to me months earlier. Don’t worry. The home I have for you you will be very impressed.
It was three thousand square feet. Every child had their own room. The yard space I needed for a garden and chickens was there. The area was quiet and safe, just outside the place I said I never wanted to live. I looked at my husband and said, This is it. He nodded and said yes, it is. Excitement rushed over me, and that Godly hug overwhelmed me.
Our realtor still wanted us to look at the final house on the list. I was not interested, but we walked over since it was two houses down. As soon as I walked in, I told her, It doesn’t matter what else you show us we are locked in on the other home. On December 3, 2025 we received the keys to our new home!
Looking back, I see how God was not just answering prayers but protecting us from what I could not see at the time. The price was reasonable. The builder covered our closing costs with a fifteen thousand dollar incentive and added a few features we wanted. We did not put any money down. The only thing we paid was one thousand dollars for due diligence, and we received it back at closing. God did exactly what He said He would.
What still amazes me is the furniture. Right after God said He released our home in 2024, He led us to choose the bedroom and living room furniture we wanted, not to purchase it yet. We met with a salesperson and had an estimate created so the items and pricing would already be in the system when it was time to move forward. At the time, we had no home and no clear timeline, but we followed His instruction in faith.
We purchased those same furniture pieces. They were still in season and in style. Most importantly, everything fit perfectly, including the size and the color. We had no idea what our home would look like or how much space we would have when the Lord first led us to choose the furniture, yet it all came together seamlessly. Even in decorating, we included God.
This journey taught me something important. Even when God cares deeply about what we want, He also considers what our family needs. It was not just about me. He was thinking about my husband, my children, our safety, and our assignment. Sometimes surrender does not look spiritual. Sometimes it looks like letting go of control, quieting outside voices, and trusting that God sees what we cannot, especially what is coming down the road.
I am at peace now. Settled. Ready. God is faithful. He is a provider, a protector, and a God who knows what is best, even when it does not look the way we imagined.
If you are in a season of waiting, my prayer is that this encourages you to trust that God’s timing is never late, even when it feels slow.
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