Women of Joy

Written by Candace Friday, 30 May 2008 00:00

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Women of Joy
MaryAnn
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Suzy
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Waiting? Not really…Every season of our lives is preparation for the next whether we realize it or not.

Walk this journey with your beloved Father!
“God loves you more then anyone could ever love you!” We‘ve heard it said time and time again, but what does it look like to really know this truth and live it out daily? Discovering the deep love of our Father captures our focus. He knows the way we were created and He knows the desires of our heart. He is here to meet those desires. BUT we must not seek God just for the satisfaction He provides. We must seek Him for WHO He is - this is true love!

It’s ok to long to be loved.
There’s a deep longing, and sometimes it stirs so deep it physically hurts! “What’s wrong with me?” we may ask ourselves. We may even have people telling us, “Well, if you were walking with God through this, you wouldn’t be feeling this way.” Or, we think we have to be hard like a rock, and we call it “protecting ourselves.” NOT TRUE! We were created in HIS image, and guess what?!! He longs to be loved and pursued, just like me and you! He longs to have intimacy, like we do. We have been created in HIS image, therefore we can embrace how we’ve been created knowing that He understands.

When I had this understanding, I was no longer fighting with my own heart and emotions. I gave myself permission to feel and learn. Understanding that this is how my Heavenly Father feels, it stirred me to respond to this deep longing by running into HIS arms. Freedom comes when I embrace who I am IN HIM!

Don’t just wait!
This season of life is not for twiddling our thumbs. We are to live this season of our lives not just waiting but living! Others encourage us to be patient and the Lord will bring the right one around. I don’t discredit this wisdom but there is so much more to discover while we are “waiting.” I found so much freedom when I realized I could still live a happy, joyful life while being single. Be intentional about living every season to the fullest. Enjoy where you are today!

When we are waiting for something or someone, it seems to consume our thoughts, our actions, our time, our life. God put me in check at one time (He does that a lot). He asked me what my deepest longing was. Without even thinking twice my response was, “A soul-mate to serve with.” There’s nothing wrong with this, but then He asked me what is most valuable in life.  I stopped and thought...all I could see was the Cross, the picture of the price paid for me to know God's love intimately. I knew what the right answer was, but was I living it? No. My desire for marriage had covered my purpose for life. I realized then that I didn’t want to look back in 10 years and regret the times I was just “waiting.” There is so much life to live with God and others!

So, right now, I am not waiting. I am living! I do long to be loved, but this desire is not too big for my FIRST LOVE.

Someday I will take all that I have learned and continue to learn about love and life, and partner with someone to make a larger impact on this world together. I am excited for the day! But today is full of it’s own potential to love and serve others and I won’t miss the opportunity!!!

God thank you for your unconditional love. Teach me how to love. My heart is protected in Your hands. Prepare me to be everything you long for me to be. I am a willing vessel; use me as a tool in Your kingdom work. Help me to reach out to others. I never want my desire to be loved to be so big that I can’t see others hurting around me. Your Words are life!