The Favor of God and the Core Value of Patience
A guest post by Jill Robson Allen.
Jill knows what she’s talking about when it comes to patience! She’s the author of The Fire of Delay: Navigating Seasons of Extended Waiting. After waiting for decades for her marriage, she and her husband are “blissfully happy,” as she says.
I write from the other side of this fire, at least in the area of waiting for God’s match for me in marriage, and I would love to share a few insights on truths and pitfalls that may help you today:
When you commit the choice of spouse to God, He takes it very seriously, and there is no better matchmaker than God.
I am enjoying a blissfully happy marriage, with healthy communication, healthy love life, and hearts aligned regarding the way we live our life in the kingdom. It is never too good to be true for God—that’s His norm.
Regarding patience, it really does need to complete its work (Romans 5)—meaning your heart issues being dealt with in the fire of waiting. I waited a long time, and it is certainly not that way for everyone. However, I can tell you this: The waiting is the time of training not just for your marriage but for the calling the Lord has for you.
I have huge expectancy regarding all areas of life because my senses were trained to discern in the season of waiting for my spouse. God wants to entrust me with so much more now that my heart is soft and healthy towards Him (Hebrews 5).
If you are doubting God really cares who you marry, check your heart for offense against God—this is a key one regarding marriage and waiting. I wasted time in this space, and it is not worth it! Your heavenly Father is delighted with you and wants to bless you, and He will. I am truly confident of that—but when you have prayed the big prayers of faith for your life, you are now being trained to shoulder those things you have asked for. I remember asking Him for the nations with the sincerest of hearts, and I realize now I have a maturity to uphold governmental authority because of the inner work that went on in the waiting for my spouse. I had to deal with offense, which is the bait of the enemy to stop you from ever entering God’s highest for your life. Deal with it today with repentance, and return to your first love, Jesus, afresh.
Marriage is incredible when the person is God’s choice for you. He is not a respecter of persons, so if He can matchmake me so perfectly because I asked Him, He will do the same for you.
It’s okay to feel like something’s missing when you are single. It’s okay to feel unfulfilled—that is part of the heart being ready even though the timing may not be right yet. Be graceful to yourself, and let yourself be loved by the Bridegroom of your heart. Jesus is my first love, even though James is my true love.
Click here to learn more about Jill’s book, The Fire of Delay: Navigating Seasons of Extended Waiting.