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His ability, my shortcoming...

the_man

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In my short life, I have met two women that I would strongly considered starting relationships that would lead to marriage.

The first one had a boyfriend and so I made no romantic sudden movements. She eventually married him and I took that as God's subtle way of saying we weren't meant to be together ( <- sarcastic humor). After that experienced, I figured God did a boo boo in His divine plan for mankind (it's funny how selfish we can be sometimes) by passing on that match. I was convinced that no one could be as well matched to me as her (have any of you ever felt/thought that?). That was until I met the second woman (which is more recently). After some council from my pastor and a few trusted friends, it turns out she is too young for me to pursue right now (as she is in her first year of college). So again, I haven't made any romantic sudden movements and have kept the acquaintance open. That nagging feeling returned however. You know, the feeling that a) she is not going to make it thru college without finding someone so forget about it b) once she is no longer available, surely there wil not be another. I mean, you aren't getting any younger and availability is not what it use to be (this one especially the "older" I get).

I saw woman #2 again yesterday at church while I was playing drums for worship. That brought back some feelings and got me down again. But I came across some encouraging words in my devotional (My Utmost for His Highest), that I'd like to share with anyone that finds themselves in similar battles. Here is an excerpt:

[font=Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Our misgivings begin within ourselves when we tell Jesus that our circumstances are just a little too difficult for Him. We say, "It’s easy to say, ’Trust in the Lord,’ but a person has to live; and besides, Jesus has nothing with which to draw water—no means to be able to give us these things." [/font] [font=Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority. If I detect these misgivings in myself, I should bring them into the light and confess them openly—"Lord, I have had misgivings about You. I have not believed in Your abilities, but only my own. And I have not believed in Your almighty power apart from my finite understanding of it." --Feb 26 'Our misgivings about Jesus' My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers [/font]

Do you find yourself saying or thinking that your circumstances are too difficult for Christ to handle? That your singleness is too dificult for Him? Could this be a misgiving on your part of the power of God? Those words certainly convicted me of thinking of my own power and my own limitations and applying them to God.


You can find the whole devotional at this link
 

nhzname

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I hear you loud and clear 'man'. I love Chambers, and find such wisdom for life through his writings. I have his Complete Works, and can honestly say that there is probably no other teacher I have learned more from in trusting the Lord.

There have been many situations in my life where I've questioned God's timing, ability, wisdom, and even love for me, when I think that my way is better than His. Once I come to my senses of course, I realize how foolish I've been, and I'm even more thankful for His grace, and more mindful of my need to trust Him more. :bow:
 
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BeautyForAshes

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the_man said:
Do you find yourself saying or thinking that your circumstances are too difficult for Christ to handle? That your singleness is too dificult for Him? Could this be a misgiving on your part of the power of God? Those words certainly convicted me of thinking of my own power and my own limitations and applying them to God.

There has only been one person that I ever felt like was "the one" and when things didn't work out between us, I'm not going to lie - I was po'd - at God, at me, at him - just po'd. And it did cause me to doubt Him and stumble in my walk.

But of course with hindsight being 20/20, i now know that we would have never worked out. We we first got together, we were both bafkslidden, but I came back to Christ and he didn't (and you know how it ends).

Now, I'm FULLY relying on God's judgement and voice, not my thoughts, opinions, hormones, lol. I've also noticed that as I grow and become more Christ-like, He has changed my desires. It so cool! A certain "look" use to stir me, but now, its characteristics of the Father in action that make me smile and heart melt. lol I truly love the fact, that if we allow the Father to work on our hearts and to shape us to His purpose and for His will - He will take care of EVERYTHING - He leaves nothing out of His perfect plan - including giving us the desires/emotions that we need in order to discern a Godly mate.
 
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Nico

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this concept of faith is something that i'm focusing on right now in my life--in all areas of my life. i know that i don't really trust God. i'm trying to understand what i truly means to have that trust. do i really believe and have faith that He has the power to move that moountain over there? as of right now, i don't. but i know that i want to get there. so i'm trying to open my heart so that God can teach me what real trust means. i have started to realize that in terms of this faith thing, i can more easily believe the bad than the good. i know that i do things every day that displease Him, and i think i would more readily believe that He will strike me down or destroy me than build me up, for do i deserve His blessings? no. but that is what grace is. i guess i have a lot to learn about what grace truly means. and love.

grace, faith, and love are all concepts that, especialy when put in the context of God, become so unbelievably abstract that i can have a hard time wrapping my arms around it all. i want to believe that God will actually bless me and that He has the power to do so.
 
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JPPT1974

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Rely on the Lord for help as well as his will and way. Unlike the world who's advice may lead to the wrong decisions as well as a mistake or two, God never, ever makes mistakes as he also wants us to lean on him for guidance and support.
 
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