Life Update: On the Move

A little over 9 years ago, weeks prior to the start of winter, we traveled to Macon to check out a house for rent so that we'd have a home as I started my new position at Tabernacle Baptist Church in January of 2017. I remember following our pastor to the house and thinking how long of a journey I'd have to work each day (this is the farthest I've lived from a church I serve). Little did I know how "journey" would be a metaphor for our time in Macon.

On this journey, we've experienced an unexpected change in pastoral leadership, a pandemic that disrupted society, a heart attack that reminded me of life's brevity, a car wreck (due to another driver) about a year before the van’s payoff date, and many more life experiences, changes, setbacks, challenges in the midst of blessings and sustaining grace. While there are blank pages ahead, we can look back on these chapters with gratitude for how God has written them.

And now we turn the page on another chapter. In December, we were informed we would need to start looking for another place to live. While trusting fully in the Lord's goodness and ability to provide, I'd be lying if I said I didn't worry (and, yes, panic at times). While we stood on the bedrock of faith in the Lord, there were times worry would creep up. We'd step barefoot on the gravel of worry, wince at the pain, and step back on solid ground once again.

The Lord used prayer, the Bible, and the strength and wisdom of other believers to keep us from despair. When mentioning the difficulty of finding another place to rent for the affordable rate granted to us by our landlord (who was also in ministry and graciously allotted us a discounted rate, for which we'll forever be grateful), Solomon, a wise brother at church, reminded me, “Kenny, the God who got you into the situation you’re currently in can get you into a similar situation!”

The Lord also used the prayers of my great aunt, Linda Surgener, a quintessential prayer warrior. She was out of town for a funeral, but she took a couple minutes to call and pray real quick with me. I've never known her to "sit" on a prayer request. I still remember visiting her in college and her pausing a movie for us to pray with someone together on the phone. She goes straight to the throne of grace! As she prayed, I broke again and wept, not with tears of fear or worry this time. Unlike those earlier anxious tears, these were tears of relief, like laying down a heavy backpack after the end of a long hike. Weight was lifted off of me as I heard her intercede for me. If you've ever had my Aunt Linda pray for you by name, it's an experience you'll never forget, and I long to be able to pray with greater faith and fervency like her.

As it turned out, like his namesake, Solomon had much wisdom to provide! The Lord indeed provided another house for us to live in with many added benefits that go beyond what we deserve, no doubt in answer to so many prayers that family and friends lifted up on our behalf. To be honest, there have been simple pleasures that we have missed since moving to Macon: a front porch to shield from the elements; a driveway to prevent dirty (sandy!) floormats; a deck to allow for comfortable outdoor reading on sunny days; a single-family home to allow freedom of movement without worrying about disturbing downstairs neighbors or needing to plan usage of laundry facilities; windows that open for comfortable breezes on temperate days (replete with screens); and many more providential blessings that seem designed by God as expressions of His love for us.

However, and most importantly, we are excited about the blessing of being closer to our church family. The longer we have lived in Macon, the more that family describes our view of Tabernacle Baptist Church. We have always felt somewhat disconnected living on the other side of town from the church, and moving will, in many ways, feel like coming home.

Remember that worry I mentioned earlier? Well, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it’s still around. Now, it’s in the form of to-do lists with extra expenditures along the way, the stress of packing up all kinds of belongings, and other “What are we forgetting?” moments. However, we have a destination and will be home soon enough.

Going back to Saturday, December 6, when our landlord texted to see if he could drop by, I had a pit in my stomach. We would often text back and forth about points of information regarding the house, especially notifying him of house-related tasks (interspersed with occasional theological questions). So, I had a bad feeling about the request for an in-person visit. Literally, while I was unlocking and opening the door to get ready for him to arrive, I said a quick prayer: “Lord, please let it be good news.”

The conversation that soon took place sure didn’t seem like good news. Although we understand his need to downsize, it was hard news to receive. In the background, the blinking lights of the Christmas tree almost seemed to mock the seriousness of our situation. It seemed at the time like God let that quick prayer for "good news" blow away like a dandelion seed. The next day was even worse, and I felt the weight of it all as the news that we would have to search for a home sunk in. I buckled from the pressure and walked into the guest bedroom, sobbing into my hands and trying to avoid the gaze of my dear bride. Few things shake a grown man’s resolve like concern over keeping a roof over the head of his wife and daughter.

She comforted. We prayed. God acted.

God didn’t act immediately. In fact, I didn’t sign the lease on our new home until January 13, but God had already prepared a place for us, a place with a rent-to-own lease (an immense blessing) in a safer part of town, closer to the people we love and who love us.

God acted. God delivered. God answered.

“Lord, please let it be good news.”

And it was so!