I’ve been wrestling with many questions and doubts recently. I’ve been struggling to cheerfully follow the commitments I’ve made to the Lord. It’s hard to be different. It’s hard to be seventeen and wonder, when people ask me if I date or whatever, if the one God has destined for me will ever come; if he’ll wait for me. It’s hard to wonder if everything I’ve put on the back burner in my life, in an effort to be pure and holy in the Lord’s sight, will ever be able to come to the front burner. It’s hard to wonder if my prayers, heartache, desire, promises, and daily dying to flesh will ever be able to be righteously fulfilled.
I wonder if anyone really notices. I wonder if anyone really cares.
I sat alone in my room last evening, crying out to the Lord for peace and comfort. Feeling like I’m just groping along a lonely, dark road. Wondering if I’ll ever reach the place where the light is. With a sigh, I reached for my Bible, knowing that it is the very best place to look for encouragement and strength. And I was not dissapointed.
I opened to Colossians, chapter 1, and began to read, and my weary heart was comforted.
v. 22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body, through death, to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation–
if you continue in your faith,
established and firm,
not moved from the hope held out in the Gospel.
Does anyone really notice how hard I’m trying? Does anyone really care? Perhaps not.
But does it really matter so much that they do? No, surely it doesn’t. So take heart, my soul, and follow Him! Willingly, cheerfully, fervently…
Amen, Bryant. Nothing is as wonderful as Scripture speaking to our hearts especially in times of doubt.
I would just like to encourage you that whatever season you are in, it is but for a time. It may not seem like it, but the next season will be here before you know it. And after that one? The next and on and on. If we don’t learn contentment in this season, we’ll be just as discontent in the next. For me this means to learn to be thankful to be single and not wish I was married when thats not what God has for me right now. If I am discontent single, then I will be discontent as wife and not being a mother. There will always be something that I do not have or that I’m not. Sometimes the deceiver uses a desire for a “real” career to bring discontentment in motherhood. I could fall prey to that eventually if I don’t learn to be content in the now. People have different weaknesses and if discontentment is there, Satan will find that weakness and take hold!
Wow, that’s convicting to type out. Something the Lord is teaching my heart. Blessings, Bryant. Its encouraging to see you seeking His face in times of discouragement.
Beautifully expressed, Bryant!! And such a poignant reminder to check my heart– for whom am I living?? Am I so caught up in preparing myself for His calling for my life that I miss HIM??? He alone is worthy to be praised, and may my life be a testimony of His redemption and grace. And if I am ‘alone’ all my life, HE will always be there. :)
Love ya!!
~Elizabeth
Hello!
Wow, I just found your blog completely randomly, while doing a search for “ezer” on Google. And I feel like I have some encouragement I can give you about staying pure for your future husband. :-)
So…I have this friend named Sam. She’s waited her entire life for her husband, never dated anyone, never kissed anyone, nothing. Throughout all of high school and all of college. She read Captivating, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, and When Dreams Come True in either junior high or high school, and committed herself to purity and patience.
And oh, gosh, let me tell you…God’s doing AMAZING stuff with her and her current, and only EVER, boyfriend right now.
She just graduated college, and at the age of 22, is now dating a guy (who’s…25, I think?) who’s a strong Christian and has also never dated or kissed anyone. Subsequently, they’re both in their first relationships and both have been pursuing only God their entire lives. They decided to date after extremely obvious assurance from God and much guidance from both God and older Christian friends and family members. And their relationship is AWESOME. God is blessing them SO MUCH.
So…I promise, it happens. There are men who wait. And they are awesome. I promise. :-)
Peace,
Stephanie