The Beauty of God’s Detours: The Zillow Listing That Changed Everything

When I recently shared that my husband and I purchased a home in North Carolina, I knew I also needed to share the deeper story behind it because I would be remiss not to give glory to God for the way He guided us through this decision.

I never cease to be amazed by how faithfully He directs our steps, opens doors, and blesses us beyond anything we could ask or imagine.

Jess and I have dreamed for years about owning two homes someday. It was always one of those “maybe one day” conversations — something we talked about often, but didn’t know if it would ever truly become reality. In itself, God’s provision over the years has been overwhelming. But this particular journey began in a completely different direction than where we ultimately landed.

It’s no secret that we love California, especially San Diego. We lived there for seven wonderful years, and in recent years we’ve returned for extended winter stays and additional visits. We have dear friends there and a strong sense of connection to the area, so naturally, that’s where our search began.

We spent months focused almost exclusively on California real estate. As you can imagine, there were unique challenges, but we believed we had found a way to make the dream work. A couple of properties caught our attention. We made an offer on one that fell through, and another sold before we even had the chance to pursue it.

Oddly enough, neither situation discouraged us. We were praying faithfully and genuinely trusted that if God wanted something for us, He would make a way in His timing.

Although California remained our primary focus, we tried to stay open-minded about the process because we wanted to be good stewards and make a wise decision with this investment. At one point, we planned a trip to Florida to explore possibilities there, but an unexpected car issue canceled the trip. We wanted to do our due diligence, but truthfully, I wasn’t particularly feeling right about Florida and was quietly relieved when that door closed.

Apparently, God had other plans.

One evening, I was casually scrolling through Zillow listings on my tablet, mostly just eliminating things I didn’t like. Rarely do I see a listing that truly grabs my attention, but I’ve always loved looking at homes near the water.

As I browsed down the coastline, I stumbled across the sweetest little ranch-style cottage in Calabash, North Carolina. It immediately stood out to me. It had so many of the things I value most in a home: a welcoming front porch, a sunroom, a fireplace, a back patio — all with far more charm and space than we expected to find in a San Diego condo.

What surprised me even more was that Jess was taken with it too.

From there, I almost began trying to talk myself out of it. Surely once I researched the area, I’d discover reasons it wasn’t for us. Instead, the exact opposite happened.

First, I fell in love with the community. Then the town itself captured my heart. Soon, I was researching the beaches, nearby coastal areas, and surrounding communities, and every discovery only deepened my excitement. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and Jess felt the same way.

Eventually, we decided to take one small step forward and simply ask God to close the door if this wasn’t His will for us. He had done it before with Florida and many other situations throughout our lives. So, I trusted Him completely to redirect us if necessary.

But instead, every step forward seemed met with another open door.

Our offer was accepted. Travel plans came together effortlessly. The drive there went smoothly. And when we arrived for the inspection, we loved both the home and the area even more than we expected.

Then came even more confirmation.

The more we explored, the more we realized how perfectly situated the home was for everything we enjoy. We truly couldn’t have picked a better location ourselves. We also discovered several unexpected advantages to purchasing in North Carolina rather than South Carolina — something we could not have possibly anticipated beforehand.

Even then, part of me kept wondering if this sudden change of direction made any sense at all. How had I gone from envisioning California to feeling completely at peace about the coastal Carolinas?

So I sought wise counsel from people I trusted. Without exception, everyone agreed this seemed like the unmistakable hand of God guiding the process. With each confirmation, my excitement only grew. Even the inspection report brought encouragement. The roof was the only major concern, and the seller willingly agreed to work with us on it. Another open door.

And so here we are, somewhere we never expected to be.

We didn’t create a ranked list of the best coastal towns in America. We didn’t spend years researching every option or embarking on some massive house-hunting expedition. Instead, we stumbled upon one charming little home, and somehow everything else simply fell into place.

It truly felt as though the God of the universe knew us personally, understood exactly what would bring us joy, and lovingly led us straight to it. While I remain incredibly enthusiastic about this decision, more than anything, I’m deeply aware that God alone deserves the glory.

And stories like this strengthen our faith.

So, if you find yourself standing in a valley of uncertainty right now, wrestling with decisions, walking through disappointment, or enduring a difficult season, know this: God is still faithful to lead you. He brings joy in the midst of sorrow. He gives wisdom generously to those who ask. His plans are infinitely higher and kinder than our own understanding can comprehend.

I share this story because I want people to see how personal God truly is. He knows us intimately. He cares about the details of our lives. And He can be trusted completely.

So give it all to Him — every fear, every dream, every unanswered question, every uncertainty. All of it.

I promise, He will never mislead you!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)