(Written in 2023)

The condo I owned was in a large (7 story) condominium complex with over 200 units. Late August 2021 Hurricane Ida hit and tore off a portion of our roof. Most had evacuated, and gratefully no one there was hurt. A few days later I returned to my condo. No damage. It looked exactly as I had left it. The building had three wings and most of the damage was on a different wing. I thought it might take awhile to get the utilities back on, but figured I’d be back home soon. However, several days later I was informed in an email sent to all residents that the entire building was declared uninhabitable. The email said we had three weeks to completely empty our condos and that we should plan to be gone for at least 12-14 months. Soon after, my brother and sister-in-law extended a very generous invitation for me to live with them until my condo was repaired.

It was no secret that I LOVED my condo. And I loved the area it was in—which was home to me for most of my life. I was only in the condo for two-and-a-half years before the hurricane, but I have many fond memories there. It is where I completed writing my book (A Heart for God: Loving God with Your Whole Heart). This condo is where I lived when my daughter got married and when I became a grandmother. I am thankful that God allowed me to be there for that short yet significant season of my life. But, seasons change.

After I was there for almost a year, it became evident that it would take much longer than originally expected to get back into our condos. So, I put my name on the waiting list for an affordable rental. Considering that I was still paying a mortgage for my condo, and at that time I was also paying monthly condo fees, I needed to wait for a rental (like the one I now have) that worked with my budget. Eight months later, in April of 2023, I moved in.

Little did I know how much I would love my new home! It has two-bedrooms, unlike my condo that was one-bedroom. So my young granddaughter has her own room at my house. I love that I have a screened-in front porch. I love that I have a back yard where I now have a swing set for my granddaughter. And, I love that my granddaughter loves spending time at my house.

I signed the lease for my rental only 12 days before the condo association meeting at which we were informed the only realistic option was to sell the building. Till that meeting, I thought I’d be moving back into my condo within the next year or two. But, here’s the really neat thing… after living at my rental for just a little over one week and realizing all of the benefits of living here, I had already let it be known to my family that for this new season of my life as a grandmother I actually prefer the rental over my condo. I had also informed my family that “when” my condo was ready for me to move back into, I was not going to move back. Instead, I was going to stay in the rental, and my intention was to rent out my condo.

I am so thankful to God for His timing. This rental became available just before I learned that I would never be back at my condo. And, I’m thankful that before that condo association meeting I had already figured out that I preferred my rental over my condo. So, in the end, the bombshell news given to us at that meeting did not have the impact it would have otherwise had.

Also, I have since decided that, for several reasons, I will just continue to rent and save what I received from the sale of our building. AND, the biggest bonus is that, as a result of my additional savings, I was able to retire! I spent the summer watching my granddaughter. I have memories of our “summer camp” that no money could buy! And, I look forward to making many more memories in my new home.

I am so thankful for God’s provisions—yet I am not surprised. Way back in early September of 2021—when I received the above-mentioned email informing us that the complex was declared “uninhabitable” and the implications of that, I remember at first feeling stunned. I immediately closed my laptop, and prayed. My prayer was something like this: “Father, I know I have every right to collapse emotionally at this point and it would not be wrong for me to express these emotions because even Jesus expressed strong emotions at times. But, what I also know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that you will not only provide for me in this bad situation, but you will also bring good out of it. You have done that in my life time after time during the most difficult situations. You are my provider and I trust you. I know that usually my first reaction is to be upset, and then gradually I get to that place of peace and trust. But this time, Father, I want to just skip over that ‘freaking out’ part and to be at peace, and trust you right from the start. I know you will not only provide for my needs, but I will look back on this difficult situation and see that you have brought some good out of it.”

God answered my prayer. Although none of this was easy, and some things were tough to navigate (physically and financially), I can testify that He gave me the inner peace and trust I had prayed for. In this difficult life experience, my Father provided for all of my needs and He brought good out of this bad situation. In good times and in bad, He is worthy to be praised!

~ Vicki Lynn Gordy
(Author of A Heart for God: Loving God with Your Whole Heart)