Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
-The Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20, HCSB
Transforming My Heart and Mind
Perhaps what I lost sight of is that no matter my earthly goals, dreams, occupations, etc., I have always had a greater purpose. The Great Purpose. Just as I was born with a natural desire to be married, I was born with an innate longing to know the God who created me. And, having formed a relationship with Him, my life is now defined by the charge to proclaim His Name to the nations.
My prayer is that as God transforms my heart and mind, I will come to live the Great Commission in whatever situation the Father places me. In this, I want God to transform my heart and mind about marriage itself.
If He so chooses to fulfill this desire in my life, I know that it must be done with His purpose. Up until recently I have looked at The Marriage Assumption as a fulfillment of my own personal happiness. As a way to exp my love, energy, and talents on a great cause. But what if I were to get what I wanted and then it was taken away? What if I do get married and have children and I get divorced? Or my husband or children die? Or my children resent me and turn away from me? If The Marriage Assumption is my end all be all, then my life will lay in ruins.
Instead, God is now moving my heart towards this: Marriage is meant to bring two people into a relationship that pushes them more towards the Lord. It represents Christ’s love for and commitment to the Church. It teaches lessons about love, forgiveness, encouragement, persevering in trials, etc. It is about living life together on earth while having a Heavenly mindset. Its purpose is not to bring me personal happiness, satisfaction in life, and endless love.
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If you believe that I am sovereign over every aspect of your life, it is possible to trust Me in all situations. Don’t waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been. Start at the present moment-accepting things exactly as they are-and search for My way in the midst of those circumstances.
-Jesus Calling, Sarah Young
Daily Picking Up My Cross
I want to get to the place in life where I can truthfully say, “No matter if I live the rest of my days as a single woman, or God was to bring me a husband tomorrow, I trust in His unfailing love and know that He has a perfect plan and fulfilling purpose for my life. I am greatly blessed.”
Though even when I get to that point, I know it will be a daily matter of once again proclaiming the truth. As long as we are in this world, so sin and temptation will be also. Twenty-four years of living under The Marriage Assumption has left a very vulnerable spot in my spiritual armor. As God continues to move in my life regarding this subject, I pray for perseverance through the inevitable trials, and His joy and peace that go far beyond my comprehension.
But Ladies, there is something we can do to help each other along this path. We have got to stop living in a place of pity parties, false hope, ill-timed encouragement, and making jokes at our own expense. When we live in those things, we are proclaiming that somehow God has messed up. That His plan has broken down and we are now living in the midst of a cosmic mess up until God can get Himself together enough to put our lives back on track.
So stop reassuring each other that everything will be fine and God has your perfect man waiting just around the corner. While that very well may be the case, it is not a promise for us to freely handout. Just as none of us knows if we will wake up tomorrow morning, none of us knows if we will actually get married.
Instead let us encourage one another to live in the center of God’s will. To pursue Him whole-heartedly and look for the blessings and opportunities that lay along the path. Let us come together in community to proclaim the glory of His Name, the perfection of His plan, and our eternal hope for the future.
Instead of feeling sorry or bitter for ourselves and each other, open your eyes to the beauty that is God’s love for you and the greatness of His purpose for your life.
Thank you so much to those who have read and supported this message God placed on my heart through The Marriage Assumption. As a bonus, there will be a fourth short installment called Where Do I Go From Here?
