A Special Prayer

I’ve been working on a book (see below) and I must confess I am weary of words! I found it hard to write anything of substance this morning. My hubby Jim, suggested I include one of the stories from my latest book–and that’s what I’m going to do.

Here’s a little something from my last book, A Trustworthy Anchor that talks about a prayer I said that was answered in a way that surprised me.

Take Your Time

You need to be sure you’ve worked through your grief before you even think about marrying again.—Second Chance at Love, by Shirley Quiring Mozena

Although I had grieved before, I learned that each loss is different. In my loneliness after Blair’s death, I became engaged to the wrong person. I stubbornly ignored my unease toward his proposal of marriage. I should have listened to family members who cautioned me I was moving too fast. I should not have pushed doubting thoughts away—doubts that I believe came from the Holy Spirit. Instead, I allowed my hope and strength to come from a man who might make me feel better.

Do you ever pray a prayer you really don’t believe God will answer? During my quiet time with God one day, I asked, Lord, if this marriage is out of your will, you will have to end it, because I cannot.

That very day, five weeks before our wedding, he broke off our engagement. It was a stinging experience, but I remembered that earlier prayer and recognized that God had answered it.

Once again, I worked through my disappointment and determined to be content in my singleness. Eighteen months passed. I focused on my relationship with God. I volunteered. I traveled. I wrote. I asked God to heal my broken heart. In my singleness, I was comforted by this passage, “I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing” (Jeremiah 31:13 NLT).

I booked a room in a quiet resort for a day and night, licked my wounds, and prayed. I began to understand I hadn’t completely recovered from my grief. Instead, I was trying to take away the hurt and loneliness of grief by pursuing a relationship with another man when my grief was not complete. I wasn’t ready to date. It wasn’t fair to either of us.

After that disaster, I decided to focus on my grief and learn to live alone instead of pursuing a new relationship. I pored through the Bible, asking God to be close to me and heal my broken heart. I traveled alone. Volunteered. Entertained in my home. Finished the book I’d been writing. I led a grief support group. Enjoyed my grandchildren who lived nearby and traveled to those farther away.

Lord, today I pray for the person reading this devotion
who desperately longs to be married.
Help them as they work through their grief.
Be their comfort and sounding board as they wait on you. You are fully trustworthy. Let them rest in your peace and presence. Amen.

Is there any remaining grief you are working through before you can move forward with the next thing God has? Write down the areas of your life where you’ve chosen contentment while you wait.
Ask God to show you the next steps to make continued progress.