Unexpected Paths

May 27, 2017

We're three for three. Every time we get ready to sell our Cassadaga house we get a call from someone who wants to rent it. The first time was easy; we had known the wife since she was a little girl, so were pretty confident of the care she would give the place. Except for the gardens, we were right. They even upgraded a few things.

Our last tenant was great about paying, but not so great in the care department. After he moved out, Linda walked through the house and cried. "Never again!" she declared. She worked hard to get it ready to sell. "I can't do it again." I don't blame her. 

Then we get the call. A couple who need a place right now; the landlord who owns the place they're now renting wants to sell it to a family member, and wants them out. They have six kids. Linda said, "Every time I pray about it, this happens. Is God trying to tell me something? I don't want to be a landlord. I want to sell it and be done with it." 

I don't know if God is trying to tell us something or not, but it's hard to turn away people in need. They seem like a nice couple, but we've been fooled before. So we're praying as we move ahead, but all the time grateful that our life and financial security don't depend upon that house. Our prayer is that through all of this we'll be able to share our faith with them, and even have the privilege of leading them to Christ. We don't always know God's plans; he often surprises us and leads us down paths we hadn't expected. Our responsibility is to discern his ways as best we can. It's called living by faith, trusting that as we commit our way into his hands, he will not fail us. He hasn't yet, and I don't expect he will. So we'll put one foot ahead of the other, keep our eyes on Christ, and keep praising him for his faithfulness to us.