Friday, April 22, 2011

Frustrations of House-Searching

My wife and I walked through five houses today, searching for the one that best would meet our needs as a family. Only one was an easy rejection; it just did not have the right configuration for our furniture. A second fell by the wayside because we found it difficult to exit the neighborhood because of traffic patterns. We still ponder the strengths and weaknesses of the final three. Among the variables that guide our thinking: Distance to a church where we would worship, Distance to work, Adequate room and configuration for furniture, noise in the neighborhood, security, and access to running trails or pool. What factors would you consider if you were searching? What nightmares have you experienced as you searched for a house? As we searched, and admittedly worried, a Bible verse I had cited recently when teaching a class popped into my head, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Romans 16:20). The verse, which seems to allude to God's promise of hope to Adam and Eve after their sin in Genesis chapter 3, suggests that pursuing a life of faith in God will produce peace. It's no guarantee of conflict-free existence, but a reminder that God provides, and will supply the means to overcome. Seek first his kingdom, Jesus told his disciples (Matthew 6:33). That is hard to do when it seems that obstacles pop out of every corner. Pray for us. We'll pray for you as well.