“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3
Being around teenage girls for a week, I was amazed at how much of their security was found in boys. They were drawn to me and stories of my past relationships and how I learned to find my security in Christ alone. With this in the back of my head and thinking I had it all together, I was slammed this weekend with voices from God saying Stephanie you deserve better, I made you better, you were fearfully and wonderfully made. Don’t settle. Please don’t settle. Why was he telling me this? God I’ve got it. No, Stephanie you don’t.
If I had a dollar for every time someone wanted to set me up, I could retire. No joke. Sometimes I go just to go. I always said I’d never settle and the older I get the more I see myself with flavors I would have never tasted in the past. I was reminded yesterday if you’re dating to fill a void you think you have or the world has placed on you, you’ve got it all wrong. In the past few months I have settled for less than the best in this area, and God finally put it on my heart to let Him take over. Not only take over but make Him the focus of my life instead.
There is no doubt a woman becomes lovely and inviting when she is pursued. Her heart begins to come alive, come to the surface, and her countenance becomes radiant. As women we long to be loved in a certain way, a way unique to our femininity. We long for romance. We are wired for it; it’s what makes our hearts come alive. You know that. Somewhere deep down inside you know this. But what you might never have known is this….
This doesn’t need to wait for a man.
If you’ll open your heart to the possibility, you’ll find that God has been wooing you ever since you were a little girl. Jesus calls himself the Bridegroom (Matt. 9:15, Matt. 25:1-10, John 3:29) Bridegroom simply means fiancé. Lover. This is the most intimate of all metaphors Jesus chose to describe his love and longing for us, and the kind of relationship he invites us into. What God opened my eyes to is that the story of my life is not defined by these relationships but by the long and passionate pursuit of my heart by the One who knows me best and loves me most. God has written the Romance not only on our hearts but all over the world around us. What we need is for Him to open our eyes, to open our ears that we might recognize his voice calling to us, see His hand wooing us in the beauty that quickens our hearts.
“Every song you love, every moment that has moved you to holy tears has been given to you from the One who has been pursuing you from your first breath in order to win your heart. God’s version of flowers and chocolates and candlelight dinners comes in the form of sunsets and falling stars, moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies; warm wind, swaying trees, lush gardens and fierce devotion.” – Captivating, John Eldredge
The culture of women in the church today is crippled by some very pervasive lies. Our need is not to be romanced by men but to be in a spiritual romance with God. What we/I must remember is that we are being romanced, and ever will be. We are bringing something to the heart of Jesus only we can bring. We are His betrothed, His beloved, the beat of his heart, and the love of His life! He will never let us down. Draw near to Him. He is waiting… <3
