Being a bride is what 99% of little girls dream about being someday. For many of these girls, it eventually comes true. For some of us, it takes a little longer for that to happen.
I have ALWAYS wanted to be a bride/wife/mother etc. As long as I can remember I’ve thought about my wedding day. It would be in my church that I grew up in, in August, the same weekend that both my grandparents and parents were married (8/26 and 8/27).
It would be perfect. I would be married by my middle 20’s, start having kids in my late 20’s/early 30’s and live an exciting but tired life being a wife, a mother, and a teacher(or whatever God had in store)!
Today marks 2 months until I turn 28.
No prospects for a husband, no kids, and I am in month 7 of the world race learning so much about God’s love for me and who I truly am as a person!
If you had asked me a few years ago if I thought I would be happy knowing I wasn’t married yet, I probably would have said absolutely not, I want to be married in the worst way.
If someone asks me that now, my response would be; “I’m already married.” After some puzzling looks and possibly thinking there was something wrong with me I would then be able to explain.
Let me take you back to “Awakening,” in Cambodia (end of April) where 3 squads came together: I Squad (at the time heading into month 10; they’re now finished!), O Squad (at the time heading into month 8; they’re about to be in month 11), and S Squad (at the time heading into month 5; as I said before we’re now almost finished month 7.)
Towards the end of “Awakening,” we were told to draw a name from another squad and do a listening prayer for them. Mine came from a girl named Alexis from I Squad. Her note was super encouraging and had the verse “Isaiah 62:4,” for me. I read it, but didn’t think much of it!
I re-read that verse on Sunday evening during church and it hit me. Throughout the Race, the theme of marriage/bride has been coming up randomly! A few examples are in Nepal (month 2,) we talked a lot about our relationship with God/getting pregnant by the Lord. In Vietnam (month 3,) I read “The Circle Maker,” and began to pray circles for my future husband (which I have never done before.) The book that our wonderful squad coaches gave my team when we were formed at the end of month 4 is called, “Bridal Intercession.” I was prompted to write a note to my future husband by God back in Thailand (month 5), which I have never given a thought about something like that! In Albania (month 6,) my teammate AnnaGrace told me to already picture myself as a bride because I am one. So, clearly bride/marriage/etc has been a reoccuring theme for me throughout the last 7 months!
Anyway, Isaiah 62 is SO good and goes along with the theme of bride too! Isaiah 62: 3-5 [the Message,] “You’ll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You’ll be a stunning crown in the palm of God’s hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married), Because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration. For as a young man marries his virgin bride, so your builder marries you, And as a bridegroom is happy in his bride, so your God is happy with you.”
I am ALREADY a BRIDE. God delights IN ME! My Beloved is ALREADY WITH ME forever and ever! And THAT is something to REJOICE IN! Thank you Jesus!
