First, in my last post, I talked about how God responds to faith. I still believe that, but I also believe there is a certain point where God just does what He wants in your life regardless of if you think you deserve it.
Now, I would like to talk about what God did, that I still don't believe I deserved. (And for fun, I'll incorporate some photos from my wedding)
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| My beautiful family (Missing one of my brothers) |
Matthew 6:25-27 (NKJV)
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"
We, as humans, have a strong tendency to worry. Naturally. It's something we fall back on almost immediately despite the many times we've witness God work things out in our life. It's almost like when something bad happens we say to ourselves "This is it, now this is the end, my luck has finally run out." When in reality, there is no such thing as luck. And if we can understand and come to grips with that truth, it'll make life a whole lot sweeter. And worrying will not be as big an issue.
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| 5 out of my 8 brothers, 4 of them my brother in law, 4 of them my own |
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
The bible is clear that all things are working together for the good. Which can only cancel out the idea of "luck". God is fully aware of all that you are going through, all that pain, hurt, and sorrow, anger and frustration. It's all temporary. And as soon as you can understand the bigger picture, that ALL THINGS are working together for GOOD to those who LOVE GOD, to those who are CALLED according to HIS PURPOSE.
Are you called? Where you saved by God's grace through faith? If yes, then nothing that you are going through is by happenstance. By accident, or by coincidence. If you've surrendered to the love of God and conviction of the Holy Spirit, then God will use EVERYTHING you've been through to not only better you, but to better someone else. Everything is worth it, and it will get better.
Now I have a few testimonies to back my thoughts.
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| My beautiful step daughter, Cassidy, and I |
MY HOME
About a month before the wedding, my then fiance and I were both living with family, trying to plan a wedding, save for an apartment and still take care of ourselves day to day. We had no idea of the blessing God had for us. We went apartment searching, and it seemed like nothing was working out, everything we were interested just didn't work out. Or someone got it before us. It became frustrating and tiring, and the worrying began to set in. Our biggest concern was that after we said "I DO" we would have to say "See you later" and head off to our separate living situations. My now husband was not having it, and although I would have been willing, it wasn't what I wanted either. About 3 weeks before our wedding, an opportunity came to rent a house. A three bedroom home in a beautiful community and it seemed almost too good to be true. At this time we were both so used to things not working out that we didn't care either way we knew we would be fine. One week before the wedding, we signed all the documents and was able to move right in.
We understood at that time that it was all apart of God's plan for us to get a home a week before our wedding, and not as soon as we were planning to get one. Mainly because we wanted to wait to kiss until our wedding day and I know without a doubt, that if we would have gotten anything we applied for prior to then, we would have succombed to temptation and failed. God allowed nothing else to work out, for a reason, and even though we struggled daily with trusting His plan, we knew deep down that He would work everything out. And He did. Once we stopped focusing on somewhere to live, and just on serving Him, He placed our home in our path and everything worked out smoothly.
Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV)
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."You see that. This verse not only tells you not to worry, but it gives you a solution to your worrying. If you seek God's kingdom, and His righteousness, He will not only take care of your needs, but He will cure you of your worry. If you trust God and focus on seeking Him, then you can rest assured that you will need for nothing. And if you feel that you are focusing on God's kingdom and His righteousness, and your needs don't appear to be met, maybe you should search your heart, and make sure what it is you think you "need" is not just what you "want".
MY HUSBAND
I've mentioned this before, but I feel it necessary to mention again, God chose my husband. I met my now husband in 2011 about 5 months after my then boyfriend passed away. I wasn't interested in dating and our cousins had set us up on a blind date. We laugh about it now but it was a horrible date. I was not interested and didn't care to show it. I wasn't the nicest to him, but he was very understanding. I walked away from that blind date uninterested, and he walked away knowing I was broken. A year had passed by before we spoke again, I honestly don't remember how it happened, but we ended up hanging out and I immediately took a liking to him, but I still wasn't interested in dating. I enjoyed his company, and his personality, but we both knew I wasn't ready. Later on that year he moved away and I came to know the Lord. My life changed dramatically and I didn't see him for about two years. I had no idea he would later become my husband. I had no idea of God's plan. But that also wasn't my focus, I spent two years forcing myself to focus on God's kingdom and sharing the gospel. I do not say forcing in a negative way. But in truth, it was not easy, but it was fulfilling. It lead me across the country, sharing the gospel in Spain, London, and Croatia. Seeking His kingdom changed me, inside and out. And while God was preparing me for a spouse, He was preparing my spouse for me.
It wasn't until May of 2014 that we reconnected and God made it clear that we were to be married. Once my focus was off desiring to be married, and was fully on desiring to serve the Lord, He began to work in me and my now husband. The test was not of faith but of time, and I knew I had to make use of the time I had. I had to let God heal me, discipline me, encourage me, strengthen me, and prepare me for the journey ahead. I went through so much, and I didn't understand why. But I didn't have to understand because I knew God was working it out for my good.
I was being prepared to not only be a wife, but a mother. So my preparations were not what I expected. God placed people in my life who were all married, with children and I saw first had that it was not easy. And I had many nights babysitting four little girls the oldest 3 the youngest 3 months. What I thought was a favor for the parents, was actually training for me. I am now a step mother to a very hyper 5 year old, and I know now, that everything I went through was for her. Like I said God uses EVERYTHING.
God chose my husband, my home, my job, my husbands job, my step daughter, and everything else in my life. I just had to sit back and let Him work. Trusting in His every move, and knowing that He was working EVERYTHING OUT for my Good. And oh how great is Gods good.
God bless.
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