For close to 57 years I've been single. I've had a couple boyfriends, several instances of falling in love and an interesting history of roommates. I'm a missionary. I chose to be a missionary. Worse yet, I chose to follow God's call into leadership. All definite "turn-offs" to men.
But I believed a speaker some years ago... and she said "Nothing is too difficult for God! Your job is to follow hard after God - give it all your heart - and if marriage is on that path, He will arrange it!" I believed her now and I believe these words still. Not because they were spoken by a woman who had paid the price to win my respect (on the firing line in a communist country) but because God also spoke them to Elisabeth in the Bible and to many other saints in many other ways throughout the Bible timeline.
I know that men like to feel dominant and respected - to be the most important one in someone else's life. They are generally not attracted to strength in a woman. But I knew then and I know now that a man who is following Jesus with his whole heart (and the best part of his heart) will not shy away from strength. He knows that to fulfill the task, the Great Commission, both need to be strong.... especially if He calls you into the dark places, the strongholds of darkness. And those places are increasing. Many hearts are growing faint. Many are shrinking back and many are needing to become stronger than ever just to pierce that armored darkness.
I don't imagine many men will read this far into my little note today but I can well imagine that many women like me will have been intrigued enough to read on. What can I say? Do I regret my singlehood? Yes and no... I would have loved, as any woman would, to have had a family, to have a husband and children to invest into. But I know I have followed His call. It was my pearl of great price.
Now I have spiritual children in many nations across this globe who will, in turn, invest into others for generations to come. Do I have children to visit me and care for me in my elderly years... those who will come close and comfort me? No, I doubt that. But I will trust Him still for the golden chapters of my life yet to come. He is God of the impossible then and He is God of the impossible now. He is my Maker, He is my Husband, He is my inheritance.
