Life is constantly proving that in the blink of an eye, everything can change. The unexpected can potentially cause a shift in our circumstances so swiftly that it can literally take our breath away. The notion of change or any of its cousins like transformation, correction, adjustment, or modification, will sometimes bring us to a place of anxiety. Very few of us realize how comfortable we’ve become in our present situations until we are confronted with an issue that refuses to cooperate with business as usual. We react to this in a bevy of different ways, and sometimes we abandon the very thing that anchors us, which is our relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. God knows our propensity to do this, and its why evidence of our diligence must be apparent before we take that walk down the aisle.
When a storm arises, no matter the magnitude, there’s going to be pressure. Many of us respond to this pressure with anxiety first, and then with desperation following somewhere in the not too distant vicinity. Some of us find ourselves making all kinds of promises to God, thinking that He will bargain with us, and accept our meager offering for the goodness of His grace and mercy. He doesn’t operate this way, but we will still try to use this tactic. Whatever we’re dealing with, God already knows about it. He allows the constant changes of life, both highs and lows, because they force us to grow in faith. If everything was always smooth sailing, most of us would choose to remain comfortable where we are, and never learn to walk by faith and not by sight.
Marriage is God’s institution. It is one of His ways of providing for His people. It is a bond of unity, and we know how much the enemy hates unity; he seeks to divide it on every turn. We can see evidence of this in real time, and it is one of the major reasons that God wants us strong, confident, and anchored in His love and wisdom BEFORE we get married. Now is the time to demonstrate our faith and trust in God’s Word. Our patience in waiting for the right person, and our diligence to stand strong through the challenges of life reflects our commitment to be full of God’s grace. Then our faith will withstand the strategies of the enemy.
In 2Corinthians 12:9(NLT), the Apostle Paul spoke about a troubling situation he was forced to face in his life. He called this issue a thorn in his flesh—a messenger from satan that was sent to torment him. Paul asked the Lord to take it away, and God’s response to him was “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Some people have interpreted God’s response to mean that Paul would have to continue to suffer the torment of the thorn, so that he would be humbled by the pressure of it. This is not an accurate interpretation.
Transport you to new levels
God’s response to Paul reveals a spiritual strategy that would both transport and transform him. Make no mistake that life is a spiritual journey, and you are on it. God knows the path you should take, because He alone has planned your destiny. Sometimes we stray away from the path that we should be on. We make decisions and choices that don’t honor God, and therefore those decisions and choices do not honor us or what is best for our lives. We desire marriage with the person that God has ordained, yet, our actions move us in the opposite direction. The storms rage when this happens, and we find ourselves panicking in the middle of the ocean.
Many of us have endured broken relationships, numerous heartaches, and disappointment after disappointment. We can sympathize with Paul because our quest for marriage often leaves us with this panicking feeling. It’s a thorn in the flesh, but God has told us that His GRACE is ALL that we need. Confidence in His unmerited favor is an infallible spiritual strategy. It’s the answer to our troubles. In other words, God is telling us that instead of focusing on the problem, FOCUS ON THE SOLUTION. Focus on His goodness. Focus on His power and strength, because it works best in weakness. Instead of feeling as if you’re in the middle of nowhere without your bearings, let the Lord Jesus Christ be your guide; for Proverbs 3:6(NLT) tells us “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” God knows where you ought to be, and He’ll show you which path to take if you’ll let Him.
Be Transformed
In Romans 12:2(NLT), God also tells us through the Apostle Paul, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” The thing we focus on will increase and grow. We can’t afford to focus on negativity when we’re trying to stay on the path of destiny and have what God says we can have. We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds to His Word. We have to change the way we think so that we are not shaken by plots and tricks that seek to undermine our faith. Instead, we must remain secure in Christ, with confidence that God’s grace will transport us to new spiritual heights as we are transformed into the spouses He desires us to be. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“A Confident Spouse” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.