Article December 10, 2012 Issue

Building with prayer

Tom R. Evans, Sr.

My wife and I had been looking for a larger home for about ten years, to support our growing family. When the prospect of finding the right house seemed daunting, we were inspired by some thoughts from the Bible, including that Christ would “prepare a place for [us]” (see John 14:2, 3) and that our true dwelling was a “house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (II Corinthians 5:1). This prayerful thinking would be a foundation for our trust in God as we listened for His guidance to find a new home.

Just a few houses down the street from where we lived was a beautiful lot that had a view of a river, which was part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Over the years we would sometimes watch the sun set over that river, silhouetting the tall trees on the lot, and my wife would often think, “Someday someone will build a beautiful home on that lot.” But it never occurred to her that we might be the family to build that home someday! Although a “for sale” sign eventually appeared, we never considered purchasing the lot because we thought the price would be too expensive. 

A woman who was new to the area began attending our church, and soon became a realtor. We looked at houses with her, but none were just right for us. My wife and I continued listening to God for direction, and our thought opened to the possibility of building instead of buying a house. At the same time, we let go of some of the price limits to which we had been confining ourselves. It seemed so natural to accept the fact that if God was showing us this new, expanded view of what was possible, then He would guide us all the way to a perfect outcome.