A Divinely Prepared Devotion

If you were to scroll through my Instagram feed, you would find many posts centered around marriage. Oh, no... not me. Many of my beautiful friends are entering into proposals, engagements, and weddings. I must say, it's a fun party! And it's caused me to reflect on the hot topic.

A year ago, it seemed as if all I thought about was a relationship. I played this broken record too often with my mentor. It was ruling my mind, emotions, and ultimately rejecting the place God had me in. Gracefully, through prayer, studying Scripture, and grace, my anxiety of a relationship had been hushed. My heart's perspective of marriage had been refined by three adjustments:

1. Marriage is not a promise of God but a

preparation from God.

2. Marriage is not purely for us but to bring others to Jesus.

3. Marriage is not the end goal.

I used to believe marriage was a promise or an "obligation God had to me." Those beliefs never end well... While pride could be present, I had convinced myself of this because of all the marriages around me. I thought marriage was a promise because, "it's what you're supposed to do in life."

There was great confusion when I learned marriage wasn't a promise from God. Then, it clicked in with humility. Has God prepared marriage in the way society desires? I must say no. Wait, don't frown, this glorious! This means God—the all knowing Creator—has uniquely prepared a life for every person who trusts Him.

Marriage is a wonderful, beautiful image of the Gospel. It's an accurate display of the sacrificial romance God has with humanity. And if the gift of marriage is entrusted to us, we can't selfishly abuse it. A divinely prepared devotion between two souls is to bring others to freedom. How beautiful is this image?

Marriage is an established promise between two begging souls pointing to the Giver of life. 

As dignified, honorable, and lovely as marriage is, it's not the end goal. If it were, our worth would be found in the gifting of marriage—and it's not. Friend, if your hope is in Jesus, your end goal is eternity. It's once again, to point to the Giver of life while here on Earth.

When we live in surrender to His preparations, anxiety is hushed and pressure is released. While I desire marriage, I desire to step into God's will for my life more. He is all knowing and I am not. He is sovereign and I am not. He is holy and I am not.

Friend, I write this as single woman. I understand an outlook without experience could resemble cheap. However, these are discussions our hearts and minds need to have. If marriage is for you, bring others to Jesus. If marriage isn't for you, bring others to Jesus. Oh, let's live this way!

-Typed, Revised, & Edited

 Cameron