For the past several years in my devotions I have alternated each year between two books to read along with my Bible reading. This year I am in Streams in the Desert, which means that the last time I read this would have been in 2011.
Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
So often when we as Christians go through darkness the natural thing is to find the light and help ourselves out instead of waiting through on God. We seek the light through our friends, or perhaps our own judgement and wisdom instead of letting Him help us. Premature deliverance may frustrate God's work of grace in our life...
Two years ago I read this statement in my devotional and today I read it too:
You may move the hands of a clock to suit you, but you do not change the time; so you may hurry the unfolding of God's will, but you harm and do not help the work. You can open a rosebud but you spoil the flower. Leave ALL to Him. Hands down. Thy will, not mine. Remember that it is better to walk in the dark with God than to walk alone in the light.
Next to that underlined portion I had scrawled - {Jack}
I have read this same devotional probably a half a dozen times now but when I saw my handwriting; saw HIS name, I couldn't help the tears from falling. You see two years Jack was barely an acquaintance As a matter of fact I had never met him in person; and I only knew him through his blog and the light emailing we had done regarding photography. But two years ago, I knew there was something special about HIM. I knew that if God allowed it we could be so much more than barely acquaintances. And oh how I wanted to rush in, to be a little more forward than was in my nature. To try to "win" him on my own; to make this work. However, I knew that I need to trust God to let His plan unfold and to let it be in His timing.
If I can get one point across to single girls it would be just that.. Let God do His work. Let Him unfold his plan in your life. Trust Him.
How do I know this works? Because I have now been married to that Jack for the happiest 5 months of my life.