It has been almost a year since I was reflecting on hopes and dreams for my life. Not much has changed except that I am now nearly two years shy of being three decades old. I am not yet a wife or mother, though hope is always on the horizon.
God has been gracious to give me another year to learn and grow spiritually. I am thankful He has blessed me with opportunities to use my maternal instincts as He placed many children in my care this past year. I feel if it is His will, I am now perhaps even more equipped to become a bride through trials and experiences He brought me through in twelve month’s time.
One thing I have been noticing about life on this earth is that nothing is guaranteed. We can be given great blessings, but they can be just as easily taken away…
We can be feeling full of health one week and then the next be diagnosed with a terminal sickness.
If we are given to a man in marriage, in some way or another, he could be taken from us.
We could discover that we have been given a baby only to later lose the fruit of our womb through miscarriage, stillbirth or infant illness.
We could move into the farmhouse of our dreams, only to see it burn to the ground soon after.
Am I being pessimistic? I would like to think that I am only being realistic; realizing that the Lord who can abundantly give can just as easily take away. I cannot count on getting married and then living happily ever after. I cannot wait until I have a healthy baby in my arms for my life to truly begin. Maybe it is God’s will for me to remain unmarried until the end of my days. Yet, if I do marry, I need to be ready for whatever life brings – whether it means being a dedicated wife for fifty joyful years or becoming a widow after only a short time of experiencing the joy of marriage… Whether it means having a dozen children or living with the knowledge that my womb may never bear life.
There are a lot of uncertainties in life and no temporal guarantees. One thing is for sure, though. God is unchanging. I am the LORD, I change not (Mal. 3:6). Though the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord! His will is indeed perfect and His ways are ways of faithfulness. I will strive to trust in Him – no matter what happens!
“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.“ -II Sam. 22:31-33 (NIV)
Sooo right. His presence is guaranteed, and He is enough!
“I will strive to trust in Him-no matter what happens!” Oh that we could say this every day of our lives. This post was a blessing to me, thank you for the post.
Anna Lea
Jennifer,
That is so TRUE! Thank you for the timely reminder… my life is currently at a crossroads, and nothing is certain. I am realizing that surely, we have no hope but in Him.
Blessings,
Keri
God has given us many great and precious promises. “The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I (Jesus) have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.” For this purpose was the Son of God manifest, to destroy the works of the evil one.” ‘I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.’ Let us claim life more abundantly and stand as Jesus gave us, through the shedding of His precious blood,the right to do. AMEN!
What great wisdom that is! Thank you for sharing!
Amen. Thank you so much for this post. Excellent and encouraging.
That backs up what our reverend was saying just this morning. Thank you for the reminder!
The Lord is good. His compassion never fails. His mercies are new every morning. “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
… Thou changeth not, thy compassions, they fail not,
As thou hast been, thou for ever wilt be.
Amen!
Is it integrity or lack of it to publish only the comments that give thanks, and praises and “Sweet talk”?
I cannot see one comment rebuking, correcting, or giving a different biblical perspective. All girls are ‘playing the same song’, are ‘in tune’, are using even the same words…Allow me to say that if so, this isn’t Christian felowship, it’s just “young ladies’ club”. in Chrstian felowship there is room for correcting and rebuke. In the club or political party, there is not.
May that you decide, in a practical way, what exactly is ylcf.org. Sometimes supporting and encouraging involve also correcting repentance and rebuke.