It was warm, warmer than I like it to be. You would think after having lived in the South for the majority of my life I would be used to it, but I’m not. You see, I was trying to pray and I wanted to focus and the heat was making it difficult.
It was National Day of Prayer, and as part of the ministry, I knew what each station would address. So there I stood, trying very hard to let the world fall away, but the worries of “is everything as it should be?” or “am I taking too long at each station” continued to pass through my mind.
I was trying, ever so hard, but I couldn’t seem to let go.
Then it happened. It was a simple park bench with a jar sitting off to the side. A soft breeze began to filter through the trees above and for one breath of a moment, I felt relief from the heat, from the worries, from the cares of the day. I grasped a scripture from the jar, the very scriptures I had cut out in preparation for that day, and it said:
For I the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the One who helps you.” –Isaiah 41:13
With a soft whisper, the Lord told me what I needed to hear. The real reason I couldn’t concentrate, not in the way I should have, was because of a burden I carried. It’s not one of those burdens which are too heavy to handle, one that is so overwhelming that as soon as you try and hold it up, you break under the pressure.
No, it is a simple one. One that is at the back of my mind more than I would like to admit.
Its name is Singleness.
Now, if you were at the Women’s Spring Dinner and heard Jacqueline Heider’s message then you learned all about the battles so many are facing. All around us women are carrying heavy burdens that can wreak havoc on us. You heard Jacqueline name some of the women in our ministry and how they have coped with things which were too great for them to carry.
One of those women is Rachel, a young woman in our ministry who is single and has never been married. I know her personally. I know how joyful she is, how smart and loving she is to those around her. She has wisdom and kindness, and that comes from a focus on the Lord.
When asked how she has dealt with singleness she said, “I think the one thing I have learned is that being content is a choice … God calls different people to different things, so I just have to live well where God has called me.”
Wow. Doesn’t that amaze you? Here is a woman standing up and saying she is who God made her be. In her own words she says:
“I can see that in some cases, singleness (thus far in my life) has been a blessing. I always thought I would be married out of college … but if that had been the case, China wouldn’t have happened … children’s ministry wouldn’t have happened … Warren wouldn’t have happened … and each of these things has brought people and experiences into my life that I would never trade for all the things I always thought I wanted.”
Take a moment to think of the situation you are facing, or have faced in the past. Maybe it is hard, much harder than you ever thought you could handle. Or maybe it is like me, not so much a struggle as it is a wondering if you are enough. Or it could be a disappointment in life not turning out the way you thought it would.
At a time in her life when she was wondering about her singleness, Rachel began to speak a very important truth in her life.
“Okay God,” she said, “if I’m single forever, You’re still good. You’re still enough.” She says that saying those words out loud has led to the affirmation of His truth. She knows deep down that He is good.
Do you believe that today? With whatever it is you are going through. Can you trust that He is good?
I am believing it today, knowing that whatever the Lord has planned for me is far better than what I could ever have imagined. And I’m a fantasy writer at heart, so that is saying something.
My prayer is for you to read this and see whatever struggle you are facing clearly—to see the battle, which lies ahead, and to know that God is on your side.
I have my scripture from National Prayer Day with me. It sits on my desk and reminds me to let go.
It reminds me that no matter what, HE IS GOOD.
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the One who helps you.” –Isaiah 41:13
Meaghan Rauscher
©2018 Women of Warren, Warren Baptist Church