What Is the Right Thing to Do?

Buying and selling a house can be a stressful experience. I remember when I moved to the north of England and was trying to buy a house.

I searched for months without finding anything suitable. Finally, a nice property in my price range showed up online.

I asked the estate agents to show me round, but they refused to make me an appointment until the following week, even though they had told me they were taking someone else the next day. It was frustrating and very strange, because they were not short of staff.

It became clear that they had promised the other person the first opportunity to buy and were not allowing anyone else to compete. (I’m not sure what the seller would have thought of that, as competition would have led to a better price.)

I felt so angry and frustrated. It even occurred to me to put in an offer without seeing the property, as the photos were online.

But when I prayed about it, the scripture that came to me was, ‘Let everything be done decently and in order’ (I Corinthians 14:40).

I knew that trying to circumvent the proper procedure wasn’t doing it ‘decently and in order’, so decided to leave it until the appointment they had made me.

Of course, that was then cancelled and I was told an offer had been accepted. I felt very angry and upset, but had to just trust the Lord.

Not long afterwards, I saw the house, which I subsequently bought. It was much nicer and suited me much better than the one I had been so upset over.

Today’s verse says something very similar- ‘there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery.’

If you are feeling tempted to take a shortcut, perhaps because taking the usual route is triggering your emotions (such as anxiety or anger), maybe this verse is the Lord’s guidance for you today.

And if you are in the middle of buying or selling a house - may the Lord bless you, guide you and give you His peace as you put your full trust in Him.