Move Now!

Move now!” I woke up to these words one Sunday morning a few years ago. Certain I must have misunderstood, I closed my eyes and tried to block out the two-word command. You see, we had just packed up my parents’ home after their death, and the last thing I wanted to do was pack up another house—our house. There it came again, “Move now!” This time I was certain it was the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart, instructing my husband and me. I knew we needed to take action. Two years prior, my husband, Vondell, had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and at some point, living in our two-story home would pose a problem. Besides, we needed to downsize. The children were gone, and it was just us.

We had agreed a one-level home in a senior community would be ideal. After reading my devotions and having a long talk with the Father, I shared with Vondell what had been revealed to me. Immediately, we searched my tablet for homes in our target community and discovered a lovely house listed for sale. This was unusual, as residents rarely left that coveted neighborhood. The following day our real estate agent arranged for us to view the home. “Perfect,” we agreed. The real estate agent submitted a bid, and we waited.

A week went by without a word. We prayed, sure that this was the house God had chosen. The next week we received word our bid was not accepted.

Disappointed, I prayed, “Father, I thought You said, ‘Move now!’ ” The response came back, “I did, but that is not the house I have in mind for you.”

So we searched other listings and viewed several senior communities with houses we assumed would fit our needs. Again, we came up empty.

The price was beyond our budget, the house needed more work than we were prepared to do, or the community was too distant from family.

Again, the Holy Spirit nudged me back to our target community. Another house had become available! Unlike the first house, this house was in pristine condition, with new hardwood floors, an updated kitchen, fresh paint, and a large patio.

We prayed, and this time He said, “Yes!” For everything there is a season.

Allowing God to lead is the sure way forward.

Yvonne Curry Smallwood