We rent the house that we currently call home. And while we save for a house of our own, I feel displaced and unsettled.
I tell myself that the reason for this is because it is not “ours.” If it belonged to us then we could invest in the changes I long for.
An island for the kitchen. Hardwood on the stairs. A fresh coat of paint on the trim. Instead of putting money away for a down payment, I could use it to decorate and then our home would feel welcoming and wonderful. And if our house felt welcoming and wonderful, we could enjoy our life together more.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. (Psalm 90:1)
I need to remind myself that this house is not my home.
Too often I believe the lie that the things God has created are better than the Creator Himself. I look to the god of comfort for satisfaction, instead of the God of the Universe. I place my hope in throw pillows and duvet covers, golden calves throughout my home.
God has withheld no good thing. I have everything I need, and instead of looking to material possessions to soothe my soul, I need to run to Jesus, confess my blindness and thank him. Everything I have is evidence of God’s scandalous grace. I’m not entitled to any of it, and I certainly don’t deserve it.
What if the way my house looked was a reflection of the joy already present in my home, instead of using it to obtain that joy?
God is the creator of beauty and has gifted to us the ability to enjoy his creation, but the things we find lovely and comforting in this world should point us to Him. What is beautiful about them is that they are tangible expressions of His glory.
What if I looked around my house and believed truth, that everything is a blessing.
What if I was reckless and gave thanks for my empty kitchen, carpeted stairs, and chipping paint? These are gifts from a gracious Father, and he has blessed me with them and an abundance of more.
When my children are grown, I want them to feel nostalgic for their childhood. And while that will include memories of familiar blankets and baking in the kitchen, I pray that what will stand out in those moments is that God’s heart was revealed to them. Where we loved, forgave, served, extended and received grace. Where out of our deep love for Christ, we became that which we were called to be: the hands and feet of Jesus.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5:1)
And so I will continue to decorate and create a warm space for my family. But I will do so as an overflow of the beauty of God through us. I will pray for the strength to reject the lie that these things themselves are necessary for beauty. And I will do so knowing that none of this compares to our true home and the treasure that awaits us.
By Sarah, Truth in the Journey
Leave a Comment
kendal says
giving up the belief that THINGS matter has been hard for me. made easier by my husband’s change in employment that meant deep pay cuts….i was unhappy about that leg of the journey when i was on it, but so grateful for it now. i needed that change of perspective. during the leanest months, i gave up looking at catalogs and window shopping. and it’s a huge reason i stay away from pinterest now – stirs up feelings of discontent when i have EVERYTHING i need and more.
Sarah Van Beveren says
Amen! I’m so thankful that God continues to grow us, even when we think we know better.
Cassandra says
Amen. Even when you own a home, you can still be tempted to get trapped in the forever cycle of ‘upgrades’. Our world is built on upgrades. We upgrade our phone, our computer, our kitchen, our car, our life. But what I’ve realized over the past several years is that the upgrade materially is pointless compared to a downgrade in surrender to almighty God. And when we surrender our ‘stuff’ it is never the start of lack, it is the start of an abundance of joy. We’ve got the chipped paint and unfinished stairs too – and I often think, “we should fix that”… but then I remember why I’m here. It’s not to feel comfortable. It’s not to seek that thrill of the next material upgrade. It’s to live a life of surrender and ultimately, sacrifice. True freedom comes when the chains of consumerism are broken. Love this, such truth. Be blessed!
Liz says
This is such a good reminder. Sometimes the abundance we have (a mess of voices and needs) is not the abundance we want. I’m working on being thankful for this time, when it all seems to come at once, and accepting the life I’ve been given. Peace to you, Sarah.
Amanda says
Beautiful… Thank you for refreshing my perspective on home.
Sarah Van Beveren says
Thank you for your words of encouragement!
Shane says
Going through a similar situation myself. It’s so hard to live in the moment not wishing away the day for a better place. God continues to teach me to turn toward Him for the security of home. But I know that in this transition there are so many life lessons for me to learn. And I pray that I don’t miss one.
Sarah Van Beveren says
“It’s so hard to live in the moment not wishing away the day for a better place.”
Right?? We’re so slow to learn, but praise God that we’re learning! Thanks for reading along.
Marina Bromley says
Thanks for the great reminder!
I’ve moved a lot over my married years…rentals, company housing that varied from old farm houses with termite swarms and well water, to a lovely home with an in ground pool, and owning a few too…or rather having a mortgage for a few! One house was a “dream house” – and the day we moved in I made my husband promise we’d never move… We were gone within a year…our marriage in shambles as we served the house more than God and he worked his butt off to keep our heads barely above water. Hard lesson learned.
The past 2 years we’ve been in a downsized mode, living below our means was the goal. It got crowded when our daughter/SIL asked to move in with their 4 kids…our grandkids…but we said yes, and have made many memories. Now we are preparing for a move, and my heart races at the possibilities of what the next house will be…knowing that my HOME is in heaven, and I’m a sojourner until then…
Blessings…
Sarah Van Beveren says
Thank you so much for sharing what God is teaching you! It’s encouraging to see how he’s working in our hearts.
keltrinswife says
Thank you so much. I am wondering the timing of this post. I am wondering if we move, will we rent. Thank you for this insight and be blessed 🙂
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect says
I live in a tiny, old, never-clean-enough house. And so I’ve bookmarked this to read again…and again…until your words of truth sink in. Thank you. 🙂
Sarah Van Beveren says
The details vary, but we’re all in this together! Thank you for your encouragement.
Lisa says
As long as you love where you are at and decorate with love and joy…it will be the most beautiful home where ever you are.
Holly says
As an Active Duty Army Wife I can say that everywhere we’ve lived is home … it may not be the home we OWN but it is still home. It’s where God has us for that time — this world is not my home and each place has had it’s challenges (no, not every set of quarters is the same, has the same size windows or is arranged the same!) but it also has it’s blessings.
wendy says
Thanks for this attitude adjustment. We just bought a home and I keep thinking everything has to be just perfect before I place it on the walls. Your post reminded me that imperfection is character. And God is still working on my imperfections. So this week, I WILL put those pots on the wall and however misaligned they are, they will add character to my home away from HOME. And everytime I walk in the kitchen and look at them, I will be reminded of God’s blessings because I have those imperfect pots to put on my wall. God bless.
Sarah Van Beveren says
Wendy, this is so encouraging! Thank you for sharing your heart. God is clearly at work in you. Thanks for reading!
Beth Williams says
Sarah,
Timely post! I have been in a downsize-get rid of stuff mode for years. I don’t like materialism with all its trappings & debt! Just waiting for the day when I can go to my Heavenly home & really enjoy my precious savior!
Christa says
Wow, thanks for reminding me (as I have learned your same lesson the very, very hard way) that my house is not what matters. We have struggled greatly in regards to frequent moves. I was sure that when we finally owned our own home again, security would be within my grasp. Now that we might be facing upheaval again, the house would be gone. But my grasp of God\’s great grace wil be stronger
Sarah Van Beveren says
I am still learning, and usually the hard way. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Carolyn says
What a beautiful way of describing a life that’s eerily similar to mine. I’m an American married to a New Zealander, we live and work overseas in Central Asia, and we have never owned our own home, anywhere in the world. We’re facing another 6-month furlough to have our third baby, and we’ll be living in a rented house furnished for us (sight unseeen!) by loving, caring friends. Our other furloughs we’ve house-sat or rented furnished places, so for the first time I have no control over our home-leave house, and it’s testing my faith! THANKFULNESS is the ticket, I’m finding, to contentment. But boy, some days it’s hard! Thank you for sharing… I feel better knowing I have company!
Jo Cafazzo says
love the line: “What if I was reckless and gave thanks for my empty kitchen, carpeted stairs, and chipping paint? ” Imagine… reckless thanks… sounds wonderful. 🙂
In our culture, where it is so easy to be swept away with “house pride”, your thoughtful words are an excellent reminder that it’s not just where we live, but whom we live in.