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by Mary Kassian
It was her dream house. Flagstone fireplaces, hardwood floors, spacious rooms decorated in soft neutrals and tone variations. There was no need for curtains. The sprawling bungalow was secluded on a private estate. Poplars, fir trees, and flowering bushes were all one could see through the gracefully arched windows. She had planned every detail. And after three years of living there, the joy had not diminished. It had a bright, large kitchen, comfortable furniture, private bedrooms for the children, an entertainment and recreation area. It was perfect in every way.
Tracy leaned against the doorpost and sighed. "What are you doing Lord?" she whispered.
Am I willing to give up this house?
For weeks, her husband, Dietmar, had been acting unusual. One by one he had sold his prized muscle-cars. Except for two family vehicles, their six-bay garage now stood empty. A mid-life crisis, she figured. Soon, it would pass.
"I feel God is telling me to simplify ... to give these things up. How can I justify so many 'toys' when there are people who have no homes?" he explained.
Then one night, as she pulled the covers up over her shoulders, Dietmar put his arm around her and said, "If we ever move from this house, I'll never forget the way the moon shone in through this window."
"IF? What do you mean IF? We're not planning on moving! Why would we move?" Tracy instinctively stiffened.
"Oh, I don't know," he mused, "It's just a feeling I have. Never mind. I love you. Goodnight."
"Never mind??" "Good night??"
Inwardly, Tracy began to fume. "Don't impose your mid-life crisis on me!" she thought. She was angry. After all, there was absolutely no reason to move. The children were settled in a school nearby, the business was doing well, they were financially stable, the neighborhood was perfect, and besides, God had blessed them with this house! "IF." It was such a small word. But it had an enormous emotional impact. She did not sleep well that night.
Dietmar did not bring up the topic again. But over the next few months the Holy Spirit began to stir in Tracy's heart. The questions began to churn: "What IF?" Would I be willing to give up this house? Am I willing to obey?"" Does this house mean more to me than God does?" "Is my heart dwelling in this house more than it is dwelling in His?"
Gentle reminders
The days turned into weeks and months. But whenever the topic faded from the forefront of her mind, God sent a gentle reminder: The bumper sticker that said, "LIVE SIMPLY SO OTHERS MAY SIMPLY LIVE." Drawing the "Abraham" character card during her daughter's Bible game which informed her that her mission was to leave home and go to an unknown land. The wide-eyed little girl who stood, overwhelmed, in her front entry, and quipped, "You don't need a mansion in heaven, you've already got your mansion here!" Little by little, like spring rain eroding the last bit of winter's snow, the Holy Spirit changed Tracy's heart. She became willing. "What IF?…."
For sale!
Dietmar and Tracy put their house up for sale. Independently, they prayed and came up with a fair market-value figure. They agreed that unless God directed, they would not sell for less.
The stake that anchored the FOR SALE sign was a stake that pierced her heart. Her dream: For Sale. "Lord, this is not easy for me," she cried out, "but I am willing."
One week passed. Three. Almost seven. "Perhaps the Lord just wanted me to be willing," Tracy thought, "Maybe the test is over. Could it be that God will have us stay in this house?"
A timely call
Then the call came. The offer was close -- very close-- to the figure Dietmar and Tracy had decided on. However, the potential buyers did not meet the pre-determined price. The shortfall was $12,942.00. The amount was not substantial, considering the value of the house, but it was a shortfall nonetheless. Dietmar and Tracy fell to their knees. "Lord, we need Your direction. We are willing -- but we need to know for sure! Are we hearing Your voice? Or is this all our imagination? What should we do?"
The phone rang. It was their accountant, who was preparing their income tax return that Saturday morning. At the end of the call, Tracy asked, "Out of curiosity, will we be getting money back or will we be paying this year?"
"Getting money back," was the cheerful reply, "12,942.00 dollars!"
Her dream house: SOLD.
What happened after Tracy and Dietmar sold their dream house? Tracy writes:
As we began to look for another house, we made an offer on a smaller house (25 years old and in need of significant renovation), still on an acreage and still close to the children's school. After six “homeless” weeks that summer we moved in.
God has given me complete and total freedom from the feelings of attachment I had to our old house. And He has blessed us in many other ways besides.
- God gave me an incredible new avenue to share my faith with my neighbors, friends, and acquaintances because so many people asked the question, “Why are you selling your house?” Even now, three years later, I still meet people who ask me, “Why?”
- We met new people who have now become a part of our life, including our realtor.
- I've received feeback from other women to whom God is speaking, lovingly and patiently, showing them that He desires to be first in their lives, and that “things” are sometimes getting in the way.
- Living in a smaller house has meant that we have more money (and time) to invest in God’s work.
- I don’t obsess about details in the way I used to, and I have learned to simplify and look at things through God’s eyes.
- I have an awareness that God doesn’t want me to put my roots in so deep that it hurts when He wants me to go somewhere else, and that my longing should be for my heavenly home. Instead of just being happy, I have discovered joy!
Whose house are you living in?
There is nothing wrong with living in a nice house. We all need a place to live. But is our earthly house our dream house? Is it the ultimate object of our desire?
King David said, "ONE thing have I desired of the Lord, ONE thing will I seek -- that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life" (Psalm 27:4). David knew that besides heaven, the dwelling place of God is with every person whose heart is inclined towards Him (Isaiah 57:15). Thus, David sought to live in the Father's House every day of his earthly life. Doing so became the focus of his passion and the object of his desire: "How lovely is your dwelling place...my soul yearns, even faints for your courts" (Psalm 84:1-2).
When God asked Tracy and Dietmar to sell their dream home, He was asking them to give up the lesser joy for the greater. The joy they have experienced in drawing close to God is far greater than the joy of their former house. Living with Him has become their all-consuming passion and the object of their desire.
Are you, like Tracy and Dietmar, willing to have your desires corrected? Whose house are you living in?
Living with God can be your passion and source of greatest joy.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you live life according to His perfect plan. Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:
Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Mary Kassian is a Canadian author, conference speaker, and president of Alabaster Flask Ministries. She has developed a passion for ice hockey having spent countless hours in local rinks watching her three teenage sons play.
