My eldest son started school in August 2019, and I instantly knew I had to begin searching for a home in Glasgow. I’d chosen to go down the path of Gaelic Medium Education and his qualifying High School wasn’t what I wanted for him. Glasgow has a fantastic Gaelic High School, but you must have a Glasgow City postcode to gain entry — I did not.
You maybe think the first line is a mistake but no, I was already planning my son’s High School in Primary One! These things are important, and I want to give him the best education I can, so Glasgow was placed in my heart.
Fast forward to January 2020 and I came to faith and began praying about this and asking God to move. In February 2021 I discovered Re:Hope Southside whilst in lockdown and I joined in April 2021. Okay, so now my church is in Glasgow — and it only made me want it more.
Every prayer card and Fasting Week it was in the top two of my lists. 2022 comes around, and I join Re:Hope Royston’s staff team. So now I work in Glasgow. This is ramping up. I applied for every private let in my budget (I think it was around 40 homes) — but my application was declined in every single one. My hope was dwindling, and I began questioning it all… Was this a true heart desire from God? Or was it just me thinking hmmm that would be nice? But I refused to give up hope.
By now it's December 2022, and a fabulous small team from YWAM Maui head over to Scotland and help out at Royston. I shared with them that I’d applied for a new-build flat and I felt it was way too good to be true — but asked if they could come pray over it for me as this was what I’d really set my heart on. I’d decided to stop praying for Glasgow, and start praying for this specific home, so we headed down and prayed over the building site; touching the gates. The following month I was told my application had made it to the next stage, it was a long process and a lot of checks and references. I continued to pray and visit regularly but fast forward a couple of months and on June 29th 2023, I picked up my keys to our new home that is beyond anything I could ever imagined. As I write this blog post my two sons are spending day one at their new school which will let them gain access to the high school.
Pretty much to the date 4 years ago was when I first thought Glasgow was where I had to be and as much as I wanted it instantly, I absolutely praise God for his unbelievably generous provision and timing in all of this. His love, grace and mercy blows me away every time and I still can’t believe I get to experience His Love and so do my children — it really is a love like no other.
If anyone reading this has been praying for something specific for what feels like a long time, please don’t give up hope as God knows what you need and when you need it, and He really does love you, so try to be patient in the waiting.
“I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Jasmine Buchanan
Re:Hope Royston
Be encouraged today to keep praying that long prayed prayer. Bring your specific request back to God today, and ask Him to restore your hope!