Margaret Lim, Pb, owner, Praise God Realty

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In this edition, we feature the powerful testimony of Margaret Lim, Principal Broker and founder of Praise God Realty. Many know Margaret as a Top 100 agent with prestigious designations including GRI, SRS, ERP, and AHWD. Behind the accolades, however, is a powerful journey of surrender, faith, and obedience to God’s calling.

A Season of Hardship and Humble Beginnings

Thirty-nine years ago, my family and I arrived in Hawaii carrying the weight of my parents' separation and the hope of a new beginning. Leaving the Philippines behind, my mother, four siblings, and I poured our entire lives into starting a family business. Though life back then was a relentless, incredibly hard grind of sacrifice, our grit paid off eleven years later when we opened the very first Golden Coin Bakeshop and Restaurant in 1999.

The Whisper of Surrender and Divine Confrontation

For twenty-five of my prime years, Golden Coin was my entire world and my only financial security. However, a persistent whisper in my spirit made it clear that staying was no longer God's plan for the next half of my life. Seeking His direction in total surrender, He gave me two heavy, undeniable Scriptures: Matthew 16:26, warning against gaining the world but forfeiting your soul, and Matthew 6:24, declaring that you cannot serve both God and money.

Conquering Fear Through Radical Obedience

The weight of those words brought me to my knees in absolute surrender. I was gripped by the very real fear that my mother would reject me, disown me, and cut me off from the only financiaI safety net I had ever known. Beyond the fear of family disapproval was the terrifying reality of being utterly alone. I had never filled out a job application, had zero outside work experience, and faced the daunting task of standing on my own two feet with nothing but my two hands.

In the midst of my paralyzing fear, God asked me, “Do you trust me?” When I whispered yes, He answered softly, “Then, show it in action.” Anchored by the command of Proverbs 3:5-6 to trust Him fully and lean not on my own understanding, I packed up my fears, left Golden Coin, and stepped blindly into my new journey exactly 14 years ago.

A Blind Leap and the Spark of New Passion

The next step felt entirely against my will when someone suggested I take a real estate class. I agreed half-heartedly, sensing the subtle tug of God’s leading. Throughout the class and rigorous training, my prayer was simple: “Lord, I only want to go where You want me to go. Keep showing me that You are with me.” During this transition, Matthew 6:33 became my life verse: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well.” I prayed for passion and purpose, and God answered with an immediate love for helping first-time homebuyers. Despite the steep learning curve, God blessed the journey. By the end of my first full year at Locations, I was named the number one new agent with 16 sales, eventually working my way into the Top 100.

Living in the Light and Stepping into True Victory

Looking back from the freedom I experienced today, I realize those first twenty-five years were a form of 

emotional bondage, where money and security had become masters. I didn’t understand then what God’s 

“wonderful light” looked like, but today I live in its warmth. Choosing faith over human logic has made 

me bolder in sharing my walk with Him. Yet the greatest reward has not been accolades or financial recovery—it  is the intimate relationship I now have with my Creator.  My life is filled with peace, love, and joy because God is the undisputed center, Master, and Boss of my life.

Taking Another Step of Faith 

On March 11, 2026, I stepped beyond my comfort zone to launch Praise God Realty, bringing my professional expertise and advanced industry designations to continue serving the O‘ahu community. From the day I arrived in Hawaiʻi as a young immigrant, God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11 has guided my life—plans to prosper me, give me hope, and a future. He is faithful to His promises, and I am living proof that choosing obedience over bondage leads to true and lasting victory.