We finally made it safely inside.  Looking out the large windows of the storefront, we could see the baseball size hail hit the asphalt in the parking lot and cars pulling up onto the covered sidewalk. Suddenly a young worker shouted, “ Move back; it’s not safe to be that close to the windows.” I quickly guided both kids to the back of the store, and my husband followed.  The sound of rain, wind, and hail was so loud we had to raise our voices to be heard. Although it was the middle of the afternoon, it was dark outside.  The darkness starkly contrasted the fluorescent lighting and neon colors on the clothing racks surrounding us.   

It was a fast-passing storm.  Once the rain had slowed to a drizzle and the sky was brighter, we made our way to our rental car.  I noticed something odd.  At the airport that morning we had been given an electric blue sedan with tinted windows.  It looked as if the tint had been removed from the rear window.  As we approached the car I realized the window was gone!  Hail had smashed the window into tiny shards of glass that were now all over our belongings in the back seat.

Sure, we had occasional earthquakes in Southern California. I was used to them.  But a Texas storm with hail strong enough to blow out a car window?  I was already questioning whether we were doing the right thing by moving.  I had so much fear about the uncertainty and worry about our future. I asked God, “Are you trying to tell us something? Is this a sign we should forget the whole thing and be content with our life in California?” 

  Busy Southern California had been our home for 14 years. One day we began dreaming of a small town and a community where young families thrive.  We heard great things about Texas and started to investigate our options.  By the time we made our trip to Austin, we had decided to move there and all we needed was a home for our family.  

We were scheduled to meet a local realtor on the afternoon of the hail storm. She was ready to show us several properties. We didn’t like any of them. We weren’t that picky, but the construction of homes in Texas was very different than in California. It was a long day and I was getting cranky.  After hours in the backseat between my 5 and 9-year-olds, our realtor seemed relieved to return to her office – even though we didn’t find a house. 

Back in California, we became obsessed with finding a house in Austin.  We spent hours searching websites and looking at pictures of homes for sale.  My husband even made a solo trip to Austin and met with a different realtor who showed him more houses. In my quiet time each day, I asked God to show us the way.  I thought, “Why am I trying to control this situation?  Why am I having a hard time trusting everything will work out?  Did I make all this up or did God place this move on our hearts? It would be so much easier to stay in California.” 

In Philippians 4:6-7 Paul writes, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (NIV). I was a mess at a time when I should have been excited about our new life. I longed for the peace that transcends all understanding. God had a plan. I needed to get still enough to hear it and be obedient.

Proverbs 3:5 says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (NIV).  God wanted me to trust Him instead of trying to control the outcome. I was never in control anyway. 

One evening my husband found a house for sale on one of the many websites we scoured each day.  Although the house was out of our price range, we decided to make an offer sight unseen.  After some negotiation, the price was lower, but my fear and worry had increased.  

I remember hitting my knees and praising God when we were approved for the loan.  Still, I had a nagging doubt about purchasing a house we hadn’t seen.  As we packed up all our belongings and scheduled the movers, I was excited and scared at the same time.  We loaded into the minivan and began our trip along Route 66 to Austin, TX.  

The six-day trip was an opportunity to spend time together and prepare for our new life in Texas.  However, I found the anticipation of seeing the house we purchased got in the way of being fully present and enjoying each other.  I began to have physical manifestations of worry and stress.  My jaw started to hurt.  The pain would continue long after we were settled and required many doctor’s visits and strange devices I slept in at night.  

We finally arrived in Austin excited to explore our new home. The house was perfect for our family – it had plenty of space to both homeschool and work at home.  The two acres around the house felt like 20, and the Hill Country sunsets were so peaceful and majestic.  The wildlife and quiet made it clear we weren’t in Southern California anymore.  Our home was filled with love and many beautiful memories were created there. 

It’s easy to connect the dots looking back and praise God for His faithfulness.  However, in the middle of upheaval and weighty decisions, it’s challenging to be still enough to hear God. It can be just as hard to be present enough to enjoy the journey. When God places something on your heart, just start.  Find the courage to trust in God and don’t allow fear to stop you from taking action. Exchange your anxiety for God’s peace as you discern and follow His plan. Abundant blessings and joy await you!