Exhortation: They Stole my blessing- Always a bridesmaid, never a bride
Have you ever found yourself watching others receive the things you want or need? My 16 year old son made a valid point, “God will give you blessings but then he will step aside to test you.”
You heard the saying, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” Let’s take a real look at life’s situation.
Carrie wants to be married. She’s 35 and still single. Her friend rushes in announcing that she is getting married. The bliss of wedding enchantment begins. Carrie smiles while her stomach is doing somersaults. “Will you be my bridesmaid?” Her friend asks.
A stale void creeps onto Carrie’s face. Her mind is racing fast. This isn’t her first rodeo. In fact, she has a rainbow collage of bridesmaid dresses in her closet from other weddings she’d been in. Every color, every design. She thinks, “After all I’ve been through, why is it not my turn? What’s wrong with me.” She clinches her jaw muscles heavy in thought. “Lord, why am I never a bride always a bridesmaid?”
Real Ministry is this: What Carrie feels is real and honest. She wants her own husband and her own wedding day. But here’s the dilemma, can Carrie be happy watching someone else get what she is waiting for?
Stated by my son, “God will give you blessings but then he will step aside to test you. All challenges and tests are not prodded by the devil. God, our heavenly father, ascribes test as a teacher does a student to ensure a skill is learned, knowledge is applied, and information empowers growth. Therefore, the God tests that show up in life come to show you– You, your strengths, weaknesses, voids, areas of growth or not, maturity or the lack of, etc.
Standing in this test, can Carrie accept her friend’s offer and be genuinely happy for her?
- Yes, if she is honest about her emotions.
- Yes, if she allows the test to show her ..her truth.
- Yes, if she realizes God has not forgotten about her. [Jeremiah 29:11]
- Yes, if she remembers it’s not about her. It’s all about God’s will be done in earth as it is in heaven. [Matthew 6]
- Yes, if she remembers the footsteps of the righteous man (woman) is ordered by the Lord. [Psalms 37:23]
- Yes, if she can take a look beyond her own selfish emotions. God is no respect of persons. [Romans2:11]
- Yes, if she can see that there is a time and a season for all things. [Eccl 3] Perhaps this isn’t her season to wed.
- Yes, if she can take the time press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [Phil 3:14]
- Yes, if she can remember to be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing her labor is not in vain [1 Cor 15:58]
Then finally Real Ministry is simple-- “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strenthen, settle you.” [1 peter 5:10]
No matter the climb or struggle within, trust God with every heavy situation and circumstance. He is still the God of catching cares. His glove is never frayed or broken. Stay encouraged in the heavy– and move Forward.
Real Ministry:
VeeVeca Lavoira,Author www.Verbalconquest.net
