“It was the perfect house, whether you liked food or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear and sadness” – J.R.R. Tolkien’s description of Rivendell.

Last year at this time, I was anxiously waiting to hear if my offer on a house had been accepted. I’d been searching for more than a year at that point. I questioned whether I was too picky or just too impatient, and balancing optimism with realistic expectations proved challenging.

After such a long search, my optimism began slipping. I found myself making concessions. Worse than that, I found myself doubting God’s willingness to fulfill His promises. I knew He could, but it sure didn’t seem like He would. The whole process was beginning to wear me down.

I looked at a house one night that seemed pretty decent. Sure, it was over-priced, but what house wasn’t in that crazy market? And, yes, the neighborhood looked sketchy, but maybe I was just being judgmental. And, okay, I didn’t have a lot of peace, but that was probably just nerves.

I asked my dad if he would look at it with me. He’s a rockstar at pretty much everything, and I knew he could give me a good idea of the home’s structural soundness. He agreed. As I opened the website to show him the house, I saw a brand new listing. It looked amazing! I quickly contacted my realtor and updated my dad on the change of plans. The next day I was making an offer, and I moved in the next month.

My new home is not at all what I expected or what I thought I wanted. I was pretty set on a three-bedroom house and adamant that my guests would not have to walk through a bedroom to get to the bathroom. Yet, here I am with a two-bedroom home with a jack-and-jill bath that is absolutely right for me in this season. God knew exactly what I needed.

My current home is not my dream home by a long shot, but it is a solid testament of God’s faithfulness, provision, love, wisdom, and promises fulfilled. His hand was so evident through the buying process that I cannot possibly doubt that this home is an answer to my years of praying. I’ve said all along that I want my home to be a ministry tool, and this home has great spaces for gathering, cooking, and even hosting overnight guests.

Even the imperfections have been a blessing because I am not clinging to this possession as I would have if I had gotten my dream house. When God chooses to move me, I will happily follow where He leads. Until then, my desire for my home is that God’s presence will be felt there and that it would be a place of joy and refuge to the people in my life – my own little Rivendell.