His Presence

I have always known that the trials in our life are meant to draw us closer to the Source of Life - to God Almighty.

But I never truly experienced this truth until recently.

I am discovering that the pain I am going through now has a purpose. I am not an accident, and neither is life meaningless. Everything in this life has meaning and a purpose behind it. I can rejoice in this knowledge, and rest in the peace that comes from trusting that God is in control. I know this sounds a bit cliche, but it is the truth.

The Lord has been awakening my heart. He has been drawing me near to Him ever since I let go and surrendered. Ever since I realized that I can't possibly do this alone.

When the unexpected happens, and you find yourself desperate for something, or Someone to be your hope, to be that anchor that you need, He is there. He is always there.

Some days, I feel myself beginning to panic, as I think of all the worst possible scenarios that can occur as a result of the dark and confusing time I am in. But then, a Scripture comes to mind as the Lord reminds me of His presence. And then my breathing returns to normal. He is there.

Because truthfully, no matter what happens, God is constant. He will never leave me, and He will never stop loving me. Reminding myself of His promises does wonders to calm my aching heart and to banish the anxiety that would otherwise eat me alive if He wasn't there to hold me up.

"I am restless, until I rest in You."

-Audrey Assad, in her song Restless

Love That Never Ends

What is love?

My husband and I had an interesting, albeit heated conversation the other day regarding love. Particularly unconditional love. He claimed it doesn't exist. Not even in the Bible.

At the time, I was too flustered to quote Scripture (I know, I know...) but reflecting upon our conversation throughout the week, a verse suddenly came to mind:

"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

--Romans 5:8

While we were still sinners.

Did you catch that?

He loved us even when we were wicked, sinful creatures. Beyond hope.

Is that not unconditional love?

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

--1 Corinthians 13:4-7

To me, unconditional love is the only true love.

Where would we be without it?

There is no fear in love. (1 Jn. 4:18)

Marriage in Today's World

The marriage relationship is the greatest human display of God's love. And many people are watching us: our spouse, our kids, our friends, indeed an entire world desperate to discover a woman who loves with such intensity that it's courageous. In her, they see Jesus.

"We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Remember Jesus loved us first. He is teaching us to do the same, beginning with our husbands. I am convinced this is the way of the Lord.

--Lynn Donovan & Dineen Miller, in Winning Him Without Words

In a world where fewer and fewer people are living according to God's plan, a good marriage is truly a rarity. A successful marriage is nothing short of a miracle.

May God grant us wives the strength to love our husbands with an unconditional love, and may our commitment to our marriage be unwavering.

Father God, be glorified in our marriage!