Some Moments Quietly Shape Your Faith. Others Shake It Awake.
The House That Held Our Memories
There are moments in life that quietly shape your faith…
and then there are moments that shake it awake. Then there are ones that have you packing by faith.
This was one of those moments.
For a season, we lived in a house that felt like a gift. At the time, everything about it felt right. Because it was brand new, there was fresh paint, clean lines, and flooring we actually got to choose. Even so, what mattered most was how perfectly it fit our family of eight.
We brought Jillian home there. Before long, that house began holding our memories. Laughter echoed through the rooms. In those early days, ordinary moments settled quietly into the walls. For a while, it felt stable. It felt safe. It felt like home.
Packing by Faith The Knock that Changed Everything
And then, one Saturday morning, everything changed with a knock at the door.
In that moment, a stranger stood on our porch and spoke words I don’t think I’ll ever forget:
“Your house was sold at auction.
You need to be out by the end of the week.”
There was no warning.
No letter arrived.
No heads-up came first.
Instead, there was only shock.
Looking back now, I can say this plainly: we should have never been approved for that loan in the first place. At the time, it was an era when banks were handing out mortgages the way Costco hands out samples—quickly, generously, and without much discernment.
Still, in that moment, all we truly knew was this: our sense of security vanished in a single sentence.
Three Weeks Sounds Like Time… Until It Isn’t
After some intense back-and-forth, we were able to negotiate three weeks instead of one. At first, I was grateful for the extra time… but even then, three weeks still wasn’t much when you’re trying to find a rental large enough for eight people, within a very real budget, in a very tight market.
Still, it couldn’t be just any house.
For some of our kiddos, certain neighborhoods carried traumatic memories—places we knew would stir fear instead of peace. At the same time, with a newborn who had Down syndrome, there were additional layers to consider: stability, safety, familiarity, and proximity to care.
It Was Sunday… and We Had to Be Out by Friday
So we searched.
From that point on, every waking hour was spent refreshing listings, making calls, driving neighborhoods, and doing the math over and over again. Meanwhile, homes that fit our family were rare. Even worse, homes we could actually afford were rarer still.
At the same time, we packed.
Packing by Faith
We called it “packing by faith,” because every box we taped shut was sealed without knowing where it would be opened again. There is a unique kind of stress that comes from putting your life into cardboard while not knowing where you’ll land. The air in our home felt heavy. The clock felt loud.
By the time the third week rolled around, the tension was undeniable.
It was Sunday, and we had to be out by that Friday.
The House We Loved but Couldn’t Afford
hat morning, Kevin and I walked into a rental that immediately felt different. From the start, it was beautiful—two stories, four bedrooms, a loft, and an HOA with two pools. More than that, it felt safe. Calm. Like a place where our family could finally breathe again.
Still, there was one problem.
The rent was $100 over our budget.
Even so, we walked through it. As we moved from room to room, we pictured kids on the stairs and laughter spilling out of the loft. Despite everything, we let ourselves hope—just a little.
Finally, we asked the leasing agent to confirm the monthly rent.
He stated the amount plainly.
The $100 Gap God Closed
It had dropped by exactly $100.
There was no negotiation.
No explanation followed.
No scrambling required on our part.
Instead, there was provision.
In that instant, the gap we couldn’t bridge on our own closed completely—just five days before we had to be out of the home we loved.
Almost overnight, our packing changed. What had been frantic became purposeful. Gradually, what had felt heavy grew lighter. In its place, peace replaced panic—not because everything was easy, but because one thing was suddenly clear: God had gone ahead of us.
Provision That Changed Everything
Over the years, I’ve learned that God’s provision doesn’t always arrive early. More often, it rarely looks the way we expect. Even so, it is always intentional. Always personal. Always enough. In the end, packing by faith wasn’t about the move at all—it was about learning to follow God without guarantees.
Sometimes, He opens a door you didn’t even know existed.
And other times… He adjusts the price so you can walk through it.
If You’re Standing in an In-Between Space…
If you’re standing in an in-between space right now—waiting, packing, wondering, hoping—this is your reminder:
God sees you.
He’s already at work.
And He is never late
