Steadfast Testimony – Divinely Different – Annel Strydom

Before we started our 3 month European adventure, we didn’t know much about the what, how and where’s – but we knew God wanted us to visit Belgium as part of the trip.  That’s a whole other story for another day – but the fact is, we knew from the start that had to go to Belgium.

Things started to fall into place with house sits, sponsored courier services for supplies, a huge discount/upgrade on the car we booked – everything seemed to work out… but only in France, nothing in Belgium.  Every time we thought we had a chance for a house sit, it didn’t come through.  Every time we searched for paid accommodation, we realized that it’s way above our budget.

We came to France mid June, and had a lovely time here.  We had great experiences, did wonderful house sits, met amazing people… but still, we knew in the back of our heads that we still needed to get to Belgium before we fly back to South Africa mid September.

Time started running out, and we realized that our options to visit Belgium were running out with it.  The enemy clearly didn’t want us to go.  We had so many house sit offers elsewhere, the nicest places in France and Germany, for the exact dates we needed accommodation for.  TEMPTATION! – and we almost fell for it!  We had a Skype meeting set up with a house owner in France, but a few hours before the meeting we realized that the enemy is busy stealing from us – stealing from the Kingdom – preventing what needs to be said and done.  We immediately made the decision to not accept the offer, and decided to wait on the Lord.  Wait.  Trust.  Believe.  Steadfast.

It was one of the most difficult emails we ever had to send – to decline a offer for a “perfect house sit”, for the perfect dates.

A few days later, a house sit in Belgium (for a week) came through!  Not just any offer – a offer for a house with a lovely garden for the kids to play in.  With ponies and chickens and a vegetable garden… even a car!  And as if that’s not enough, the house sit starts on the same day as we finish our last house sit in France, so we don’t even have to find alternative accommodation for 1 night in between.  Now we stand steadfast for something to come through for the rest of the time!

We just learnt again to wait on the Lord’s promises – it never fails.  So no matter how long it takes – even if it doesn’t feel in time, it always is, trust His timing and stand steadfast on His promises.