“But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.” Psalm 73:28

As mentioned in last week’s blog on Faith that Waits, Sarah and I have been seeking God’s guidance regarding where to live. Every house we encountered seemed to bring a sense of unease. We fervently prayed for a specific type of rental, primarily a place suitable for hosting a house church and, ideally, located near Sarah’s volleyball training facility.

San Diego, where Sarah’s team is based, initially seemed like the logical choice. However, despite countless hours of searching, something always felt amiss. Prices were exorbitant even for small spaces, laundry facilities were missing (a non-negotiable for a household of stinky, sweaty athletes!), and limited parking was a constant source of stress. We sensed the Lord urging us to wait, to avoid rushing, and to trust in His timing.

This waiting period was challenging. I’ve been living with my parents in San Juan Capistrano (Johnny and Lara, you have been so good to me. I am so grateful for your always open arms, doors, and refrigerator!!) while Sarah’s been living in San Diego with her team. The distance, both physical and emotional, weighed heavily on us.

Interestingly, over the past couple of months, the word “Oceanside” kept appearing unexpectedly. It surfaced repeatedly in conversations with friends, with strangers, and even with foreigners during our honeymoon cruise in the Mediterranean! The frequency of its appearance felt significant, almost like a divine nudge. Yet, Oceanside (or “O-side,” as I like to call it) was significantly further from Sarah’s training location. We wrestled in prayer, drawn to these recurring “Oceanside” whispers while simultaneously imagining the convenience of living in San Diego.

Then, Sarah had a dream. In it, her team was relocating to O-side, and everybody was shocked. While we can’t definitively attribute this dream to the Lord, it added another consideration to our already perplexing situation. And then things got even stranger. It turns out her team was indeed exploring a move because their current training facility was proving inadequate. Everything is up in the air right now.

While skeptics might pin Sarah’s dream as simple Freudian Wish Fulfillment, we decided to give O-side a fair shake. Previously, I embarked on countless Zillow searches, a task that often felt monotonous as I scrolled through endless listings of similar apartments. However, this time, something caught my eye. A unique property, unlike anything I had seen before. It was a backhouse listed just 21 hours prior, falling within our budget, offering more space than we expected with a beautiful private backyard with a fire pit, and ample parking. WITH LAUNDRY! Plus, a lovely insulated storage room outside that could potentially be converted into a quiet prayer and study room.

Could this be it? We decided to take a leap of faith, putting our feet in the water and submitting our application among ten other hopeful renters. By the Grace of God, the owners chose us! Bless their sweet souls! (S/O Sean and Patsy! We are so grateful for the kindness you have shown to us.)

Perhaps we were searching in the wrong places all along. Maybe the Lord was gently guiding us towards what we truly needed, not just a place to live but a place to fulfill the Great Commission – to make disciples. We believe the Father has been highlighting the O-side in our hearts and holds a special purpose for that city. We eagerly anticipate all the future testimonies of the wonderful things the Lord will do there. The future of Sarah’s team training location remains uncertain, but whatever happens, we trust in God and prioritize His purposes first.

This journey has deepened our understanding of trust and the power of partnering with God in prayer. It has also served as a powerful reminder of the significance of TESTIMONY, an aspect of Faith in Action that involves sharing the wonderful things He does in our lives.

Do you have a testimony? Testimonies of God’s goodness and provision are powerful. However, sharing how the Gospel of Jesus Christ has transformed your heart carries the highest impact. I encourage you to watch Sarah’s testimony (below) about her journey from chasing Olympic gold to chasing God. I pray it blesses you and empowers you to share your own story. For it is through the Blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony that we triumph over the evil one (Revelation 12). This is the testimony of those saved by grace through faith who no longer strive to save their lives in this world but have given up their lives to Jesus, the One loved them enough to die for them.