This past weekend I had some friends come into town. What do old friends usually talk about? That’s right – relationships. This has been the most exciting time of my 31 year life in regards to relationships as I’m preparing to enter into a marriage with my best friend and biggest supporter on earth. Ginger and I both love to share the story of how God brought us together.
In relaying this story, I was quick to add to my single friends about some of my frustration in the past concerning advice given by those who had walked the road before me. Much of the advice I got seemed very much like a magic formula to repel singleness and catch a mate. A few times I received the advice to stop looking and then God would be sure to provide someone really soon. However, when after months turn into years, one has to wonder about the advice.
I never did buy into these thoughts hook, line and sinker, but they did plague me on occasion. What I have found to be true is both liberating and beautiful. We all have different stories. In Psalm 139, David declares that God has written all the days David would live in His book before one of them was even lived!
As we apply this to our lives, the implications are wonderfully exciting. God decides what is best for our lives. He asks us to give our lives to Him completely and trust Him with all that He gives and all that He takes away. He is not some cruel God saying, “I wish they would stop looking for a mate so I could finally bless them with one.” No, God is working out whatever He wills and I have said many times, the best thing in the whole universe for us is God, Himself.
He is writing a different story with all of our lives. We are sometimes bruised and battered. We are sometimes joyful and full of rejoicing. Through it all, we must surrender each day and trust that He knows what is best.
One of the greatest song lines I have ever heard was written by Rich Mullins. He sings, “I’d rather fight You for something I don’t really want than take what You give that I need.” I find myself doing that so much. I have fought God for different things and in reality, I was blinded to the fact that I didn’t really want those things. The encouraging thing is that God knew what was best. And in my life, He took me through 31 years before He provided me with a helpmate. In His good plan, He ripped a relationship from my hands that I thought would end in marriage three years ago, but He knew best. I am so glad that God did not give me what I thought I wanted. I would not be the person I am today.
So as you are giving advice, don’t put handcuffs on God. He works in everyone’s lives and He is writing different stories for us all. All of these stories will one day bring glory to God as we sit around and discuss how awesome our God is for all eternity.
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Can I just say AMEN to that.
It seems like the hardest thing for me to believe is that whereever I am and whatever state I find myself in it is the very best thing for me. I know it in my head but to walk in that when I’m in the middle of a mess is a whole other thing. “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” He is good and He will always lead me and give me the very best every second of every day for the rest of my life no matter how much I fight Him or chase the things I think I want. I am His and His Love will pursue me to the depths of hell if that is what it takes.
JayTee