Thursday, January 28, 2010

Why Oh Why?

Who would of known that a quiet and simple conversation between two friends would have impacted me and encouraged me to the point to blog....
I am convinced that God gives you seasons in life for a reason. Each season has so much to learn in itself. God is so gracious to us by giving us different seasons for different lessons.
The season I was in 11 years ago was being a mom of a 3 year old boy and 6 month old boy. It's a time in your life where taking a shower and getting just a couple of your "to-do's" done is a great day. It's a time in your life when you look forward to a lunch date at McDonald's playground so you can get some adult conversation in with your girlfriend. You have friends but because time is so lean in this season having quality time with many friends is not a reality unless you make the time.
This day 11 years ago I made the time. I had a girl's night out with my friend Julie. We both had to make sure it was after our children's bedtime so we could have uninterrupted time to talk. My husband was home and holding down the fort so I could go have girl's night. Julie made sure by the time I arrived her boys were in bed and asleep. We had so much to cover in so little time.
As I drove to my friend's house I began to pray. Praying that the Lord would give me wisdom. Praying that the Lord would give me words of encouragement. Praying that I would be there to minister to her and her needs. I so desperately wanted my friend to know that she was supported & loved by me.
When I arrived we got right to talking and getting caught up in what was going on in my friend's life. I couldn't get a word in edge wise but that was okay because I hadn't seen my friend filled with so much joy and excitement in such a long time. My friend began to tell me about this Women's retreat she went on and how the pastor of the church spoke to these ladies and shared Isaiah 54:5 with them. "For the your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth." The pastor shared and exhorted these women to make their groom...their first love their Maker. Their true husband is their God. I began to tear up as I heard the joy and excitement of my friend as she realized through this experience that she had all she needed ...her "Eternal Groom!"
You may be thinking to yourself ...is this such an epiphany? What you don't realize is that my friend was a widow in her late 20's with a 3 year old boy and a baby boy of only a few months. She received a knock on her door at 5am a few months prior to find out that her husband had died in a fire he was trying to put out as a firefighter. At the news of his death her youngest son was only 2 weeks old.
God had a different purpose for me that night. My purpose was to minister to my friend but God's purpose was for ME to be ministered to by my friend. I could see how the Lord had given her HIS grace for all her needs. She was glowing like Moses who had seen God and experienced His glory.
Its been 11 years since that night and I cannot tell you the countless times that I have gone back to that moment in time and have asked myself..."Who is your Groom?" When my husband hadn't met my needs the way I think he should or isn't loving me the way I think he should of think of Julie. When life takes a turn that wasn't expected or wanted...I can hear my friend's voice saying, "Who is your Groom?"
My groom is the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is my eternal Groom. I have an earthly groom but its my eternal Groom who doesn't disappoint. See my Eternal Groom loved me so much that He died for me so that I may have eternal life.
So I ask...Who is your Groom?