When I reflect back on what got me through and what currently gets me through those hard school days, I am often reminded of why I'm there in the first place. I know that GOD has called me to do a great work for his Kingdom and for his glory. When I think about giving up, I am reminded of the youth that I know I am called to advocate for in the court system. When I get frustrated, I am reminded of the women in abusive situations who need a way out and don't know how to get legal help. I also envision the numbers of people who will be impacted by the non-profit organizations that I know GOD has given me the vision to build. Those reflections make the blood, sweat and tears all worth it because I realize that it's for a bigger purpose than my own.
In the same way, marriage is such a beautiful season of life and symbolizes a new beginning and a fresh start. However, the process to get to marriage, like the process to graduation, can sometimes be a struggle. The wedding planning can turn you into a Bridezilla, getting to know your future spouse can reveal things that are frustrating, and thinking about how your life is about to change can feel overwhelming. Then, after the big day comes, you may feel frustrated with different things about your new life, much like a graduate heading into the workforce feels after being a student for so many years. However, you have to understand the bigger purpose. As you embark on this new journey with your spouse, think about what purpose GOD has on your life and how he wants you to change the world. Where will your new beginning lead you?
When I first moved to Chicago, I didn't like the traffic and I didn't know how to get around places without a GPS. Therefore, I always felt lost and thus got frustrated. However, when I moved here I knew that I wasn't originally from here and would have to learn how to maneuver. Yet, I wasn't embracing the new beginnings yet. In addition, I didn't like the weather and would get mad when the wind would blow in my face. But, I knew before moving to Chicago that Chicago is known for its wind and harsh winters. I just hadn't embraced that it was a new beginning. In Isaiah 43:19, God says, " Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?" Therefore, we must learn to embrace the new and expect for GOD to bring forth new things that are different from the old, but better overall for his purpose.
Now although we like to get excited about new beginnings and wait in anticipation for them, they don't always come how we think they will. Sometimes new beginnings come from things being destroyed first. In Isaiah 37:3, the Bible says, "He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Sovereign LORD, you alone know." I encourage you to ask yourself today: What dry bones do I have that the Lord may be trying to revive? I'm sure there's something that you thought had no hope or even it's YOU that you're thinking about. Perhaps you thought the Lord gave up on you a long time ago and you're considering yourself "dry bones." I'm here to tell you today that GOD is a GOD of restoration. Often times, the Lord will totally destroy something to rebuild it better than before. He did it several times in his Word. He destroyed the Earth in Genesis with the flood to restore it with his love and his promise that he would never do so again. He tore the veil in the temple to demonstrate his love and relationship with us showing that he could rebuild himself and revive himself in 3 days with more power than before when he conquered death. He also rebuilt people. For example, he brought Saul to a low point of surrendering before converting him to Paul. That's how GOD works! He breaks things and people down to rebuild them better than before. What an awesome GOD!
The Bible says, "The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty." Furthermore, it says in Job 8:7 ~ And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great. This is encouraging as it lets us know that GOD intends for our latter to be greater than our beginning. The best is yet to come!! In order for you to experience GOD's best, just keep on living.
Many times you will hear people say, "If you make it through your first year of marriage, you can make it through the rest." However, I believe that you can make your marriage work if you're determined to see the best that's yet to come! This means that you don't necessarily have to keep up with the thought of "If it's more than "X" years that I've went through with you, then we can make it," but living your life fully by enjoying the moments and enduring the trials and tests together with the promise in mind that GOD is going to make your future together greater than your past. Embrace those new beginnings! It may look cloudy now, but remember storms and troubles don't last always. ("...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." ~ Psalm 30:5)
Nuggets to remember:
1) When you think about giving up, reflect on what the BIGGER purpose is for why you are where you are.
2) As you embark on your new season of marriage, think about exactly what the new beginnings will entail for you and prepare your mind to embrace them.
3) God breaks things and people down to rebuild them better than they were before!
4) Realize that the best is yet to come! Just keep on living and prepare to experience GOD's best for your life!
God Bless!
~ CW
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