The Flip Side

"Lord, this isn't exactly what I had in mind."- Michael: Redeeming Love

There is nothing I love more than a good book. Which is funny because all through school—until college—I hated reading. But, there is something about when you are no longer being forced to read suddenly it becomes enjoyable.

But anyway, lately I have been reading the Novel "Redeeming Love” by: Francine Rivers. I read it along time ago, but decided to pick it up again. The Lord has been laying it on my heart to read it lately, which makes since because He has been teaching me so much lately about what it means to be pursued by Him.

With Book in hand, curled up in my quite living room this morning--the smell of fresh coffee brewing filling the room I had this thought come to mind, go with me here for a minute, what if the story were reversed? Now, I am not saying a girl should pursue a guy. What I am saying is...what if the roles were reversed?

Hosea was a man who has been praying for a wife. He was 26 years old and had been saving himself for the women he would marry someday. The book even talks about that Hosea had some idea of what the women he would marry would be like, and I think prostitute was the furthest thing from his mind.

If you have not ever read this book is a fictional story that is based off the Book in the Bible: Hosea. God told the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute names Gomer and their story was one that would be a picture of Israel and God.

In the book, God tells Michael Hosea that Angel, the prostitute, is the woman he is to marry. Long story short he marries her and so begins their journey. I don’t want to spoil it…so go get the book!

But I share the story to say what if God told a girl, who was praying and waiting on the man for her that she was going to marry a man who has a past…a dark past. Not like scary, but who hadn’t saved himself for marriage, was rebellious, had a lot of pain in his past…etc. Obviously at the time she marries him he would be a man who loved God, but it may have taken a lot for him to get there. Ladies, they don’t tell you that in the fairy tales do they? That your knight in shinning armor may have some dents in his armor.

As I sat with a sweet friend over coffee and she was sharing with me her and her husbands story, she mentions how when she told him her past she was afraid after knowing everything he would bolt…but he didn’t…he married her.

I just wonder if one day I will sit across the table from a guy and he will lay it all out on the table for me and tell me everything he has done in the past…just waiting for me to run…and I don’t. Don’t get me wrong I have my own stuff too. No one is perfect. But I think there is a misconception that just because as a girl you have waiting that means the man God has for you is going to have the same story or background…and that may not be true.

The most important thing anyone can bring into a relationship (of any kind) is grace and forgiveness. But, on the other hand there tends to be a misconception that because a girl has waited she has these crazy unrealistic dreams and that is not the case. I always tell me best friend when she and I get on the topic of relationships…I hope that when I tell the man who will one day be my husband he is the only guy I have ever been with that it won’t put pressure on but take it off.

My story is one that is very, very rare and I know that. But, my prayer is simply I want a friendship/courtship/marriage that glorifies God. I want God’s best for me…and best may not mean that he is pristine. As I read through this book I can relate to Angel because I am a sinner who has been pursues and rescued from the grip of sin by Jesus Christ! But, on the flip side I can relate to Michael Hosea. He was praying for his future spouse and wanted to wait on God. God answered his prayers…just not how he thought. 

God had a bigger story he was writing. Now, granted this a fictional story based on a true story…but God has a story he was telling. He was painting a picture. In the same way that Michael Hosea went back over and over again to get Angel…so God pursues our wondering hearts over and over again.

 Pray for the man God has for you! PLEASE! But, don’t assume that means he will show up in your life one day not having been beat up on the way by life a bit. You need the grace and mercy of God through Christ just as much as he does.

I told some girls one time, that in God keeping me for the man he has for me, even if he hasn’t waited it is still a gift I get to give him. My prayer is he will treasure it and cherish me all the more. Because to him he probably doesn’t think he deserves it, but that is God’s grace! None of us deserve it…that’s what makes it grace.

Just thoughts.

All I know is that my God can do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine when I wait upon Him! (1 Cor 2:9)