Awaiting the Groom

The Bride by Katharine Shilcut
flickr.com_/photos/kshilcutt/3368836744
CC BY ND 2.0

"The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry went out 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' " Matthew 25: 5-6

Outside my second floor living room door there was a small, steep staircase that led me to the mostly empty attic. Smelling of cold, dry wood in winter I'd make my way up there to fill the time with great imaginings until my sisters came home from school or until my mother called me down for supper.

In one corner close to the stairway laid an old black trunk with a rounded cover and a big brass latch in front quite resembling a pirates' chest. With my two, tiny, white hands I'd carefully lift that latch and open the cover to reveal the girly treasures inside: Mom's old dresses, her beige tortoise shell high heeled shoes and sheer, white, summer curtains! Treasures indeed to a little girl who loved to play dress up and especially loved to play The Bride! My wardrobe was complete when I found some plastic flowers in a box nearby marked, "Christmas."

I'd place my right hand on the stair rail to balance myself as I lifted feet into Mom's shoes one at a time. With that accomplished I'd dig deep into the pocket of my play dress to find the bobby pins I'd stashed for the veil. Then pinning it atop my blonde crown I'd grab the plastic, Christmas bouquet and start to hum "Here Comes The Bride." One shaky foot in front of the other I'd slowly clip-clop the entire length of the attic floor to where I dreamed my groom was waiting, wondering who it would really be someday.

That mystery has been solved. I've been married thirty-two years to a wonderful man and now my own children are married ... but I'm still getting ready for my Groom.

Today, those of us who follow Jesus are considered his bride. Brides are always thinking about their groom; always waiting for his voice to say, "I'm here. I'm ready. Today's the day! Join me at the altar, won't you?" 

What a heart-pounding day of excitement it is on our wedding day! Do we think that way of Jesus coming for us? Are we as excited about our groom, Jesus as we are about our earthly groom or are we drowsy from waiting? 

It's a challenge to wait but the wedding day is so worth it!

If you joined me here from {re}fresh, welcome!

Tension

If you're visiting from Encouragement Cafe, welcome! Make yourself at home.

"Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope." Zechariah 9:12

It's invisible, yet palpable. One moment we stand empowered and motivated then collapse deflated and defeated the next. Our God-dream meets reality and somewhere in between tension builds, plays tug-o-war with our hearts and minds. 

It showed up, forty feet high on the tapered pamper pole. Climbing was the easy part. Fully harnessed and tethered to my husband and trusted friends, my hands and feet grasped steel pegs all the way up. But once at the top, I had to let go and tension grew thick between me and the hanging trapeze just beyond my reach.

My reality  - I stood swaying on a two foot square platform atop a forty feet high telephone pole, with only two ways down. One way: admit defeat, and climb backwards. The second: trust my friends, leap forward, grab the trapeze and swing down to a secured platform only a few short feet away.

My perspective deemed the leap impossible, even dangerous. The trapeze? Beyond my reach. The longer I waited, the stronger tension mounted and climbing backwards a welcomed choice.

Abraham knew this tension well - promised offspring more numerous than all the stars his reality shouted "Impossible!" Seventy-five years old and counting, Abraham (and his wife Sarah) partnered with God to transform this reality.

Scripture tells us, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him...Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" (Romans 4: 18-22).

Abraham knew the facts: Twenty-five years passed since God first spoke his promise and nothing happened. His body and Sarah's were as good as dead -  childbearing an impossibility. And even if the impossible became possible, fathering many nations was beyond his reach.

And still. Abraham believed.

Fully persuaded, Abraham believed God had the power to do exactly what he promised. He would father many nations.

Scared and paralyzed from fear, I stood swaying on that pamper pole. Finally, I focused on my husband's words, "I won't let you fall. I've got you! Trust me. Just reach out and jump. Don't think. Just do it."

And I jumped. (And obviously lived to tell about it)!

When our God-dream journey tarries and reality shouts, "Impossible!" we must return to our fortress - God's promise - focus on his words alone, anchor our God-dreams in the reality of God's power and nurture hope.

When we do this we partner with God - with his promises - and he transforms our reality into his reality, making all things new. What seems impossible becomes possible; the unreachable is within our grasp.

Do you trust him? Then, don't think. Just jump!

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well " (Matthew 6:33).

Are We There Yet?

“I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into…a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:17

  

Our kids were decent travelers and made road trips pretty pleasant for the most part. Buckled into the backseat of our Subaru with their pillows, blankets, Teddy and Bunny and a stockpile of juice boxes and snacks between them, we were good to go.

Excitement ran high for at least the first hour in anticipation for our destination. Then, after we’d played all the travel games in my mental library, their patience ran thin and inevitably they asked, “Are we there yet?” or “How much longer?” And our answer was always the same, “About an hour.” (The first time they asked that, we truly were one hour from our destination so it became our ‘pat answer’ and eventually our inside family joke).

So there we were, stuck in the middle of NOW–our view muddled with fatigue and impatience for the road ahead–hanging onto the vision of our promised destination. 

(Pssst! Pull over and take a break as I tell you the rest of the story over at {re}fresh)

Dot-to-Dot

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Psalm 16:9 

Life surprises us and sometimes makes it difficult to stay-the-course or see which direction to go. Our heart pleads we go one way, but our mind begs the question "should I?" because it knows the heart deceives.

Holding our breath, eyes peeking between open fingers, we wobble forward wishing God's heavenly spotlight would shed some light in our direction. When that doesn't happen we pray something like, "God, would you give me a little clue or maybe a map? Heck, I'd even settle for a dot-to-dot and a #2 pencil! Something? Anything?"

Okay, maybe we don't use those words exactly, but if we were honest, in the midst of life's not-so-little surprises, that's what our hearts are saying, isn't it?

Instead, why don't we work out our faith by doing a few calisthenics? (I agree, I never liked gym class either. I'd much rather sit in the corner with my #2 pencil and follow the dot-to-dot's in my coloring book. There, I'm safe, comfortable and quite happy with my dot-to-dot's, but they'll never make me stronger, except at counting.) But....difficult situations require strong faith muscles. 

So, what strengthens our faith muscles?

Prayer - personal, honest, and unmasked conversations with God.

Jesus regularly went off alone to pray to his Father, especially when faced with difficult situations. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35). 

Intercession - others praying for you and on your behalf, including the Holy Spirit. 

 

When we lack the words, the physical or emotional strength or even the clarity to know the words to pray, Scripture says the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf. "And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will" (Romans 8:27).
There's also power in the collective prayers of other believers. They not only to encourage our heart by their willingness to carry our burden, but they carry wisdom otherwise missed by ourselves. God moves mightily when his children unite in love and concern for one another.

     Reading Scripture - yes, cracking open and reading a Bible.

God speaks directly through his Word. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Not only does he speak to us directly, but we receive encouragement by witnessing God's record of faithfulness throughout time.

     Waiting- actively waiting to hear from God.

Waiting isn't a sin, but rather a sign of wisdom. If possible, take a few hours, days, weeks before making a rash decision. And, while waiting keep praying, reading, listening for God's still voice to shed some light on your situation. "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

If you're struggling with one of life's little or not-so-little surprises today, why not exercise some faith muscles? You don't have to go it alone, or pray the right words, or read the right Scripture. Let someone help you carry your burden, pray with you and when words escape you, know that God's Holy Spirit already knows your heart and prays to the Father on your behalf. Be encouraged. And Wait.

God's picture will be much finer than your little dot-to-dot traced in your #2 pencil!