DUMB AS A ROCK

I am the first girl of three in my family. I have two sisters both of whom are married with children. I love my sisters and we have a great time hanging together. I was saved at an early age. I give thanks for that because salvation has caused me to escape many traps of the enemy. I have been blessed in the past and continue to be blessed even now. God has given me all things that I have asked of him, but in one area he has caused a delay. The area of marriage. In that area the stillness and quietness speaks. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING has happened in that area for a long time.

My youngest sister, 6 years my junior, is legally married but her husband has never completed his traditional marriage requirements. They sent word that they would be coming home to finalize that and we were all happy to hear it, but suddenly I was engulfed by a new emotion where marriage is concerned. Embarrassment. I felt like the girl at the dance who nobody picks because she is either not good looking or is a bit too chubby. Standing at the sidelines hoping against hope that someone would ask her to dance to no avail. Horribly embarrassing!

As usual I took my complaint to God. I don’t understand the delay. I told him that he should not keep me waiting in vain. If there was no man coming then he should let me know so I can stop hoping year after year. I prayed a sincere prayer in this regard and literally gave up the dream of marriage. However, God was very quick to correct me and to let me know that there is a man for me. There is a husband for me as surely as there was an Isaac for Abraham.

Abraham’s wait for a son and the God ordained delay that he experienced encourages me greatly. Abe looked just as dumb as a rock too as he waited on God. Here was a man who when lot was captured, went after him with 318 men of his own household. He owned these men with their women and children. He probably owned about 1000 people, bought and paid for. He had so much wealth that on returning with his plunder he wouldn’t touch any of it but gave it all away lest it be said that it made him rich. He could have taken more wives and concubines, but instead he kept waiting on God for the promise. You see, it’s not just any husband I want. I want the husband of the promise. Just like he did not just want any son, he wanted the son of the promise.

Abraham looked so dumb that his wife decided to assist the poor man. She offered him another woman to impregnate and get a son with. We all know how that do-it-yourself project backfired in her face, yet a son was born. If all God had wanted was a son for Abraham then Ishmael would have been okay. However, when Abe tried to give up the dream of a son with Sarah and begged God to let Ishmael live before him, God said No. Ishmael was Abe’s son, but he was not THE son that God was going to work with on his holy project. He was not the son of the promise.

Many times older, married and more experienced women have pointed out that I am getting older every day. My doctor has brought up the issue of fibroids several times urging me to hurry up and get pregnant if I want to have children at all. My mother has looked at me with that sad look of resignation that only mothers can give. Many others have advised me to say yes to any man that asks me. “There are no perfect men,” they say. They assume that my standards are too high and ask me to bring them down a notch or two. But none of them understand. I have a promise. Just like no son could take Isaac’s place, so no man can take the place of the husband of the promise.

I may be embarrassed by my state right now and look dumb as a rock as I wait for the Lord, but I know that they that wait on the Lord shall not be cut off. In the end, they shall not be ashamed. So the Lord says to me and to all who are experiencing delay like I am:

Isaiah 40:27-31 (Amplified Bible)

27”Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, My way and my lot are hidden from the Lord, and my right is passed over without regard from my God?

28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

29He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

31But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”

Therefore wait and keep on waiting for the Lord. Expect him to do it, look for him in the midst of the stillness and continue to hope in him. In that stillness, when nothing seems to be happening you will hear the still, small voice. Just like Elijah did. Whatever he tells you to do, do it and be eternally blessed.