Even the phrase makes my heart break a bit; brings a sorrow in my spirit. I mean, aren’t we raised being taught to dream? Growing up in school, you list dreams you have for your country, for your family, for yourself. From the time you’re 5 until you’re in college (and after, for a lot of us) we dream of what we want to be when we grow up. Policeman. Teacher. Doctor. Singer. Mom. Marine Biologist. U.S. Olympian. Chef.
When we get older we dream of who we want to be- whom we want to be like, what we want to be known for. We dream of who we’ll marry, our future children, where we’ll live. We list out bucket lists in the back of every journal we go through (okay, maybe that one was just me?).
Swim with dolphins. Go to an orphanage. Go to homecoming with ______. Get into this college. Travel through Europe. Learn to surf. Get married.
Some of us are born natural dreamers, where one day we want to be this and do that, and the other day it’s completely changed. Others of us are more realistic, but deep down you know you have a list of dreams that you are hoping will come to fruition- some things that you want to see, do, experience in your lifetime. You may not express them to others, but they are like hidden treasure, hidden deep in your heart.
Dreams. Longings. Desires. We all have them.
But what do you do when those dreams don’t come true? When you don’t get into the college you wanted? When you don’t have the guy trying to win your heart? When your marriage isn’t all that you hoped it would be? When your life isn’t all that you had dreamed of?
Or what about those dreams that you’re still waiting on? And you feel like you’ve been waiting f.o.r.e.v.e.r.? It may just be a silent hope, or maybe you’ve been praying desperately for years, and it seems as though it’s
just
not
going
to
happen?
Or if it does, it will be so far off. You just can’t wait any longer. This longing inside hurts. The wait is painful. You don’t want to wait any longer. And yet this desire won’t go away.
I really don’t know why some dreams happen, and others don’t. I don’t understand why perhaps the ONE dream you have is fulfilled for someone else or (it seems like) for everybody else, but not you- at least not yet.
I really don’t understand God’s ways.
And I know I can’t fully understand your hurt, or your disappointment or aching heart.
But, God does. God knows. God understands.
God sees you.
Hears you.
Knows you at the heart level.
He has not forgotten you.
And in fact, He is at work in you, and for you, at this very moment. Maybe not in the exact way you are hoping for, but rather, in the exact way that He knows is best for you.
I know the aching pain of waiting. The times I prayed and waited for girlfriends, feeling so lonely and longing for friendships. Graduating college, and suddenly having no idea what I was going to do with my life; I had never thought much past college. I thought I’d be married by the time I graduated. But I wasn’t, and in fact, I had never even had a boyfriend. I remember the pain of waiting to see what God had for me- where should I apply to work? Should I go to grad school? Waiting for a job. Waiting to see if God had something else in store for me. And then a couple of years later, after having lived out my Maui dream, suddenly realizing I need to get a “real” job, and having to wait on the Lord to provide, to lead, to show me where I should go and what I should do.
But the hardest wait for me was waiting for a husband. I had always wanted to be married, and struggled with singleness for so many years. And then finally when I had dated a couple of guys and it hadn’t worked out (or so I thought!), walking through the healing process, but at the same time desperately longing for a relationship. Not to fill me. Not to be a rebound. But rather, because I so longed to do life with someone. To follow someone who loved Jesus and follow Him together. To laugh with someone at corny jokes only the two of you know, to share heart to heart talks, and to know that no matter what, the both of you were going to stay by your side through thick and thin by God’s grace.
Before Jeff and I got back together but were talking often, my heart was already taken. I knew I wanted to be with this man for the rest of my life, but he was unsure about where he was going to live, or what he was going to do, having just graduated college. He wasn’t quite so ready to jump in as I was. I longed to be with him. Sometimes I felt like I couldn’t even breathe the waiting was so hard. I felt as though I couldn’t go one more minute.
But when I look back at those seasons, I cherish them. Oh they were hard, they were messy, and I was vulnerable. I needed Jesus desperately, and I needed people to help me have hope. To remind me of who God is and what He has done, when I couldn’t conjure up the truth on my own.
I remember spending nights on my bed with my bible open, journal wet with tears, crying out to the Lord. Resting in His arms because I couldn’t do anything else. Mornings spent running with my music blaring, talking to the Lord, and giving him my frail heart, yet again. Sitting with friends and mentors, and having them pray for me, asking for hope, for comfort, for faith. Getting emails from a dear friend saying, “I know your pain Alyssa. I know the pain of waiting. But God’s timing is perfect. He won’t go one second too long, or one second too short.”
“Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.” || Isaiah 30:18 ESV
Perhaps this time of waiting, or this time of crushing pain at a loss of a dream, is a season, or opportunity, for the Lord to shower you with His grace and mercy. This may be a season for you to be so intimate with our Savior, where you truly know that there is nothing sweeter than Jesus Himself. He is your portion. He is your gift. And despite all the incredible dreams we have, there is no gift that is more precious than Him. And from Him flows out blessing.
Don’t lose hope. Don’t give up. Keep running, crawling, to Jesus. Give Him your deepest hopes, dreams and longings, your heartache, pain and disappointment, and wait and see how He works, in His perfect way, in His beautiful time. See how He showers you with His love, with His wisdom, with His comfort. He is drawing you close. Come before Him with hands open, and place your deepest dreams and longings in His strong hands. There’s no safer place for them to reside.
“ ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” || Lamentations 3:24-25
Love your writings Alyssa!!! You are so precious. I have an off subject question, and I can only ask you because no one in my life would understand. I have recovered from an eating disorder and have gained all of the weight back. I am still at a healthy weight, but this weight gain has been very hard. I want to run and work out but I feel like for me it would be sinful rather than glorifying to God because of my motives. What do you think I should do to help myself accept and adjust to this new weight? I am on the verge of relapsing and I’m terrified. Why doesn’t God heal us of these disorders? I just want it to go away. I pray that these questions are not triggering to you! Thank you for all that you do Alyssa. You have no idea how appreciated you are. AND SO GORGEOUS hahah like you’re perfect! God bless <3
This was definitely my portion thank you Jesus!
Hey Alyssa!!!! I just read your Unfulfilled Dreams post and God spoke to me through your words! Thank you for being so genuine, I needed that. Quick questions though, you mentioned “before Jeff and I got back together…my heart was taken.” Had you guys previously dated?
The married part…that’s me. 41 and still waiting. My life has turned out the exact opposite of what I planned, but I’m slowly realizing that it’s exactly the way God planned. Thank you so very much for the encouragement. Keep writing and encouraging!
Thanks for writing this, really spoke to me today in the midst of my waiting on (currently) unfulfilled dreams
Thank you for this Alyssa! I’ve wondered many times “when is it my turn to get married” “when is the right man coming for me?” You and Jeff are inspiring and I feel at peace and focused on Jesus and remembering I am already a bride and child of Him who loves us more than anyone ever will.
I thank God for the words that were put on your heart to relay this to readers. I needed to hear this today!
Brandy M.
Waiting is the toughest part. I got divorced early this year and I know what it’s like to wait for someone to come along. It’s hard because all my family and friends area tried so I’m stuck in a hard spot just praying my little heart away.
Thank you Alyssa. This has been so refreshing to read. In the midst of heartache, confusion and dissapoinment I must continue to remember to look towards my Saviour who is everything that I need – no other gift more precious. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hi, Alyssa:
Ah I feel like this was made for me. I am so frustrated right now, I love God so much, but I have an agenda, I wanna be married soon ( not like soon :)) I jus want to finish school and why isn’t my life set yet? Lool I know He is there and I love hanging out with him I however have goals but every night, I pray keep me in ur will, and keep my heart in purity. But I want someone who could also love God with me a job that let’s me just love Him and others Ahh I should shut up…..lool thxs for listening.
This was really an inspiration to me as I am in that place right now. I so long for someone to spend my life with and it is something that I pray about the most. I keep telling myself that it will happen on Gods time and not mine. You and Jefferson are really an inspiration so keep doing what your doing.
At this moment all I can say is thank you for writing this. It is definitely something I needed to read.
This was wonderful to read. Ive been very cold hearted to the guy I love. Only because we broke up after almost 6yrs and he actually tried dating someone else and now he asks if we will one day get married but my pride doesn’t allow me to say yes. What is there to do about that except wait for God. Any advice would be great.
Waiting for God to reveal what His best is for this situation is hard, but so good. Pray, ask wise counselors in your life and be in the Word. He’ll make it clear.
It’s exactly what I needed to read. Tears of joy for the message you wrote as if you know me.
Thank you!
I truly would appreciate prayers for my health, happiness and comfort. Thanks Alyssa. Your words are so touching! Blessings and love from Southern Cali.
Xo
-Natalie C
Thanks for sharing this! I have been sooo discouraged with relationships lately I really appreciate the reminder of God’s timing and grace. It’s really hard to meet a lot of new girls and then realize it’s not going to work out after you feel you have given them so much of your time. I needed this.
This is exactly what I needed to hear. 🙂 Thanks, Alyssa. There are a few things I’ve been waiting for for forever and it seems the harder I try to fix them myself the worse it gets. Time to build patience. :Op
And patience is hard to build! But so good to learn.
I don’t know why but this article is exactly what I needed to hear. Going through a very difficult season and your words are very timely. I will make sure to come back and read this again, maybe more than once. Thanks for your wisdom, you and jeff are a great couple and I pray that I would have the same one day with a godly and wise woman like you. God bless
I remember being 15 years old and praying to God for some of the above things (top priority being a boy I wasn’t allowed to date yet) and receiving a word from The Lord one day as I was praying: “Blessed is the one who waits” I assumed it meant the “right man”, “right friends”, etc. will wait for me. Until now I didn’t even know that this was a scripture from the bible! In this season where I have been still I feel like this word and verse finally make sense. It’s not everyone else who must wait for me but I must wait on The Lord! God planted this word 5years ago for this very moment and like you said he has his best in store at the best time 🙂
So cool Lissette! Thanks for sharing. I love how God further reveals Himself throughout our lives 🙂
I just got back from my daily walk and read this. Wow I’m so encouraged and blessed by you writing this I am in a waiting stage in my life as of now and it is so painful and scary but I am holding on to Gods promises and thank you so much for sharing this 🙂
Kat in Cali
Alyssa
It takes courage to be transparent to the world. Thank you for being strong enough in all of your posts.
Eric and I have been together seven years. First two spent every day together, blissfully happy. Then, he had to move back with his parents to help them. He continued to “help” his family for the past five years. So, we stayed together, but have been completely apart for five long and lonely years. That’s five years separated on birthdays, Christmases, New years, moms cancer diagnosis, dad’s fall, all the laughter, and all the tears, or even a rainy day where I needed to just feel him sitting next to me. There is no end in sight to this waiting. He says it is God’s plan for him, but Im not sure if I believe that. I keep telling him ” Didn’t God say “leave thy mother and father and cleave to thy wife.” “You shall become one flesh.” Isn’t the team between two people what God intended for? There is such a big part of me that is so angry at Eric for keeping us apart and just expecting me to wait, when every single day he is hurting me by not being there for any of these moments in my life. Everyone thinks Im crazy because Ive waited this long. They all tell me “He will never put you first. It is all about his family and you will always be second to him.” But Eric says that this is Gods mission for him right now. I cant believe that God would want to aide in my suffering. I am lost and I am confused and I am stuck. As I have been for the past five years with this.
I will be 30 next year. And I will have spent 6 years being committed and dating a man that I have no answer of when the distance will end. When we can start living and fulfilling our life together, as you talked about in your writing. I feel like giving up, but I do not want to give up if that is Gods plan to make me wait. I just haven’t received answers from anywhere……
and I need a louder sign with how deep I am now
🙁
Thanks Alyssa
Any advice/thoughts will help if you have the time
Hi B,
I know I’m not Alyssa, but I saw your comment and it filled me with sadness- i can only imagine the pain you feel! I have little when it comes to wisdom, but have you thought about what our Lord is saying to YOU? You say Eric believes it is His plan to wait, but if this were true, I’m sure you would feel the same way? I can’t offer much but what I would do in your situation; and that is to spend time in prayer and listen for His voice and think to yourself- what do you really want? Would you want to spend the next 1,2,5 or even 10 years waiting on a promise that hurts you and could potentially lead to nothing? This said it could potentially lead to something and you wouldn’t want to be sat thinking ‘what if’- and i totally get that. Speak to your pastor or someone you trust and ask them to pray with you?
I sincerely hope your dreams are fulfilled and i shall keep you in my prayers,
D
Thank you so much Alyssa! I’m waiting on my husband to be on the same page as me regarding adopting an older (than our two little ones) child. I’m confident God will convince him of His desire for our family (the way He has time and time again), and I’m thankful my husband is a passionate servant of the Lord BUT the waiting is hard. Very hard. I just want our child to know that mommy and daddy are coming…to hold on, to have hope! Pray for the patience of my heart. God’s doing a work in me. Bless you Alyssa!
I definitely needed to read this tonight! I struggle with singleness all of the time. Sometimes it’s so hard to wait on God when you want something so badly! I know though, that my rewards for waiting on and trusting in His timing will be great and filled with blessing. Thank you for this!
Alyssa thank you so much for sharing those words! God knew I needed to hear them. I have been in a state of waiting for 6 years secretly hoping my husband would see his need to be free from drugs and alcohol, have his eyes opened to Gods love for him and some day be reconciled… I had the perfect little plan laid out! Though over the years my heart began to harden with the waiting and though I loved and lived for God I blamed him for the delay in many ways. On Tues October 29th I talked to my mother in law after 4 years of silence and let her know that though I had always hoped for reconciliation I was going to serve divorce papers again and asked if they could be sent to her home as I didn’t know where my husband was anymore. I knew he had been in and out of jail and was using heavily. She said I needed to move on with that area if my life and that I could send them there. I remember getting off the phone with her and sobbing. Crying out to God that He would intervene in his life. That next Sunday I got a call from my mother in law. It was a call I always dreaded I may get one day but always prayed against. Police had found my husband beaten to death in an abandoned house. He was dead. I was heartbroken all over again with a whole set of new emotions to wade through! For 3 days I struggled with the news and the thoughts of where my husband was. He had been an angry man plagued by many ghosts in his past. Then I talked to my mother in law… A pastor had called her to say he needed to meet with them about my husband. He then went on to say that the day that my mother in law and I talked was the day that my husband set foot again in a church and talked to this pastor for an hour. I talked to the pastor today and he assured me that my husband is in heaven now with our precious babies that I miscarried. My unfulfilled dream was to live a long and happy life with this man I loved and adored. I’m struggling with understanding it all but through it all I have to hold on to the promise that God is good. That he sees my pain and grief. That one day He will turn my mourning into dancing! I don’t see that light at the end of the tunnel yet but I have to believe that He is faithful, good, gracious and wants to give good gifts to His beloved. Until then I’m learning to dream again.
Hi Alyssa, great blog!!
It’s amazing to find a community of Gods girls! It’s important to share because when we do we share who God is to us and what amazing work He has done. 2013 has been an amazing year!! It’s had tests of so many kinds but it’s had great Glory!! My mother who was a single parent raised my sister and I in the busy city of Johannesburg South Africa. I’m the last born and I was the first one to accept Jesus as Lord over my life. It was difficult being the only one who believed in Him, but He made me a promise that my sister and mother would follow suit. I had to be patient, and wait on The Lord for that which He has said, He will do! My sister got saved and it was the most beautiful moment to see His promise fulfilled. We continued to believe in Him for our mother. It wasn’t easy, it got even worse when my mother became sick. The illness got worse and worse, my sister and I became tired, but He remained faithful. In the last month of her life she accepted Jesus as Lord. I had waited since 2009!!
Ladies God is still in the business of finished work! It’s not easy not having her here with me, but to know that she is with God our Father is amazing. He has been my healing and strength. To all my sisters who have lost someone I know it isn’t easy!! But know that He sees you, even when it doesn’t seem that way. His the God who hears EVERY prayer.
May God bless you and keep you:)
What a beautiful post Alyssa! What you said really touched me. I am in that ‘waiting phase’ for so many things. I’m about to turn 22 and just like you, I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me after I finish studying. There are so many decisions I will need to make over the next few years. Thank you for reminding me to trust in Jesus during this time. I have many dreams, many desires, but instead of being frustrated because some of them have not come to pass I will continue to just give them to the Lord and trust that he will do what’s best for me, at the right time. God bless you my sister in Christ. I can tell that the Lord is using you and will continue to use you. Blessings to you and Jeff, Diana 🙂
I feel like you just read my heart- I had the conversation about a week ago with a dear friend- about how life after college is just weird- We all went through the “never thought much past college” time and now seven years later trying to hold onto to hope for those dreams that still have not come to fruition and struggling through life as it is- so different from everything we dreamed or imagined. Thank you for your encouragement today.
WoW! Here I was lying in bed, my heart aching at why I am In this place I am in, I have so many dreams that I’m passionate about yet I’m living the opposite of them. Knowing I just need to turn to God for comfort and reassurance and guidance and *poof* when I open Facebook I see Jeff’s link to your blog! Thank you for this, was such a blessing – showing me Gods heart & fulling me with hope!! xxx
I love this! Everything you said speaks to me and where I’m at right now in my journey. I’m 18 and I have so many hopes and dreams and longings ( and yes a bucket list in my journal) and I suffer from loneliness like you did. I feel like God has used your words to speak to me. This gives me so much hope. 🙂 Thank you for writing this!
I am waiting for the friends who can love me with an unconditional love. I had the most wonderful friends in college, but since then have realized they cared more about fixing me (and my faith) than loving me where I am at. They have not been showing the love of Jesus to me when I needed it the most. This year has been extremely difficult, and I need grace and love in this season, but it just hasn’t been there.
Thank you so much for this. <3
Thanks for sharing this post, Alyssa. I really needed to be encouraged with this Word. I am going through a season where my boyfriend (first one I really, deeply fell in love with… thought I was really gonna marry this time) broke up about a little over a year ago. It’s been such a hard year! I know that God has been speaking to me through it all, though- Showing me how I treated him (my ex) as a functional god practically and so many other things I’ve needed to work on (in relationships and in my own life). If I can be honest-I’ve been mad at God, learned from God, had moments where I’ve been overwhelmed by His grace and learning just how much I thought I trusted God and just how much more I need to grow in trusting Him. I know I’ve grown a lot and still have a lot to grow in, but I still have this affection for my ex 🙁 We’ve talked about getting back together but it’s been really messy and never seems to work well (we usually end up arguing :/ ). While I love that my ex always had this DEEP love for Jesus and pointed me back to Jesus, there was a lot of red flags as well. SO many things we both need to work on. Sometimes (while we were dating) I would just have this feeling that I was supposed to break it off, and other times I would second guess it. Even now I struggle with if i made the right choice- if we should get back together again (since we’ve discussed it). It stood out to me when you posted one time saying that you just “knew” God was telling you to break up with Jeff (before you guys got back together, of course). I wonder if you ever questioned, wrestled with it, and how did you KNOW? Did you ever feel like you would get back together? Was it hard to open up to the idea of getting back together with him, when that came around?… I know I can’t pick your brain here, i just wish i could run into ya and do so over a cup of coffee or something. lol… But yeah, I just finished your hubby’s book today and I’m encouraged to keep trusting in Jesus and praying His Holy Spirit lead me and give me abundant grace to follow wherever He leads and trust that He knows and cares for my heart in the mean time. It’s just hard sometimes. I’m in my early twenties, still really love my ex, and thought we could work out well and encourage each other in the Lord and do life together- you know? I still have these moments where God shows me something beautiful and I get this stinging pain because I wanna share it with him but I can’t (or I’m guarded when we do communicate) 🙁 (Your hubby actually reminds me of him a little- my ex also read alot of nerdy theology books and we’d talk about it and he was a goofball too, and very creative)…. In anycase, Thanks for all you and Jeff do! You both are such sweet spirits and such a blessing with your transparency and love for Jesus! I’m excited to get your upcoming book when it comes out too! Keep blogging- you’re encouraging many and God is using you greatly! 🙂 God bless your sweet family <3
Mari,
Your story is almost exactly like mine. I had been with a young man who I know loves the Lord for about 4 years but throughout the relationship, I kept on getting signals that I needed to break up with him and finally one day I did. We both really took it hard and as a result it severed our friendship, for what I thought would be forever, but then we started talking again. Although we talked about getting back together, I soon learned that he had already entered into another relationship, but yet still told me he loved me and wanted me to be his wife. You can probably understand my frustation. I thought I knew this guy and as our conversations continued I realized that he was really confused. If I continue to write I may start crying so I will leave it as that. But I did want to encourage you to learn to trust God during this season. That is what I am doing, because in a way, I feel like I idolized this relationship and because we are both believers, it didn’t seem like it, right… But looking back I am learning that God will not share His glory, His attention with anyone and I probably have to go through this heart break to learn to love Jesus above all and realize that men will fail us but God will not.
Alyssa, Thank you for sharing your journey with us and please don’t stop writing because telling your story and encouragement is really helping me to let go and let God figure out this mess, because I am not really sure how to move on.
Thank you so much for this post Alyssa. I feel like I’ve been in the ‘waiting’ season for the last 3 years – and it’s so hard sometimes. Especially when I try to take opportunities and the door just slams in my face over and over again… Even now, I’m in a season of heart break – where someone I seriously thought would be the one someday is no longer in my life – and as much as it hurts, I do believe it is a season where God wants to be closer than my next breath. So thankful for an online community that understands these crazy hard seasons!!
Thank you for being vulnerable and honest in your blogs 🙂 such a blessing and encouragement to me!
Many Blessing you and your husband! x
Thank you so much for this post. “There is no gift that is more precious than Him” truly resonated with my heart. So true, yet how quickly I forget that Jesus is all I need! (And oh, how I need Him!)
Hi Alyssa
Your posts always speak to me and touch me in so many ways. This one gave me tears.
Your story is a bit like mine. I graduate in the fall.. I’m 21. I’ve had one boyfriend…and the Lord I know told me to break it off. Why? idk. I still love him dearly and we are still in touch. I’ve date two guys since him and I always think about how I wish I was with my first.
I know the Lord has a plan for me. Sometimes it gets tough and I doubt the Lord. I am human.. but its nice to read this post and all the comments that follow and know that I am not alone in this world. The Lord is with me. And it is important to trust His ways and timing.. because only then will it be perfect.
Love you Alyssa <3
Such a beautiful blog, so refreshing to see someone be so truthful and raw, knowing the whole world can see. This post really ministered to me in trusting that The Lord sees our pains and frustrations, also that he hasn’t forgotten us. Thanks Alyssa
I needed this. Thank you Alyssa!
Wow thanks for being so real and vulnerable Alyssa!:’) You’ve no idea how much I can relate to your blog.
I grew up having really good friends but i tend to lose them after awhile. I was so lonely for many times in my life that I contemplated suicide. Now, I have a close friend and probably the only close friend I have in this new season of my life. I’m always disappointed by her as she breaks her promises to me and failed to be reliable whenever I need her. I love going to church but she on the other hand, dreads going to church and never pays attention during sermons. I prayed and prayed to God for more godly friends but I’m still kinda alone now. Really hope God will come through for me and give me lifelong close friends very soon. I’m someone who literally cant stand loneliness and boredom.
I don’t even have the words to express how timely this blog post is. A “thank you” isn’t enough.
You and your husband are one of my biggest inspirations.
Living what I believe to be the reality of why God made marriage : to join 2 people together to ADVANCE the Kingdom of Jesus.
This is my prayer for my future marriage and what I’m holding out for because i know is what God wants for me.
Thank you for taking the time to share you story and remind us of His plans, faithfulness, love and goodness for all of us.
Keep doing what you do. It’s changing lives.
A million blessings to you and your family, including Aslan 🙂
I couldn’t have found this in a better time. I was looking up to you and had you way up in a pedestal (before I read your blog) I thought you always had what you wanted. But seeing this helped me understand more of the heartache I feel over my dreams that seem so distant. I really feel like I’m the one in the wrong for feeling sad over something that God already said He’s working on. But it still hurts seeing how others around me get what they want and I’m still waiting.
Thank you so much for writing this, Alyssa!
God never ceases to amaze me in how He uses people like you to speak to fellow believers. I couldn’t have read this blog post at a more perfect time. I’m not alone in my hard time right now and you have encouraged and uplifted my spirit in many ways through this blog post. And for that, thank you so much for taking the time to write this? Blessings to you and Jeff this holiday season<3
As I sit here crying after reading that I realize that they are not tears of sadness they are tears of happiness! I am so happy to realize that someone understands exactly what I am going through and I finally see the hope. I am so excited for what God has in store for my life. He has shown so much grace and mercy I am overwhelmed at how much he loves me. I can settle but I can’t settle. He knows my desires and I know nothing is to big for him. Thank you!
Ayssa, this was perfect for me. Waiting is such a hard thing to do, because we tend to get desperate and angry at the Lord. I have felt like He doesnt care, like He is distant. Even, punishing me! So stupid. We musn’t wonder off and be anxious, for He is an amazing Father to us, and He wants us to look and resnt in Him while He plans and works out things for us. I can’t wait to see how everything in my life turns out, how amazed I will feel at the time when I say to God: “Thank you, look at the amazing things you’ve done. Again” I’ll trust the Lord no matter the circumstances and will crave His presence in all I do, dreaming, praying, longing <3
I like your reply Mariana. Very encouraging.
Thanks Alyssa! I really enjoy your posts, your thoughts and encouragement. There are days where I really need to hear/read something and God just directs me to those blogs. I pray for your future with Jeff and the baby (congrats by the way), you’ll be an awesome mother!
Could I ask you a question?! I’m 21 and never had a boyfriend (that was something that God has convicted me of as a little girl) and don’t know too much about guys. I was wondering, how did you know Jeff was someone you wanted to be with right away? Was there little hints/signs? How did God show you these things? It seems me that girls are the ones who think about these things right away and the guys seem to catch on pretty slowly 😛 (okay, well some guys)
Lamentations has been such a blessing to me. I’m learning daily in this season that The Lord is my portion and my hope is secure in him. Thanks for this blog post. It’s such an encouragement to me!
Alyssa, I absolutely love this blog. It’s so perfect for me. I have come back to read it three times and it ALWAYS encourages me more and more. It is exactly how I’m feeling! Thank you for sharing it. It truly means so much to me.
thank you!!! I needed this.
Sometimes I wish I could just sit down and have coffee with you.
Its been a while since the last time i read your blogs. Decided to catch up and i must say, you are really an amazing woman of God. Thank you for sharing your journey with us:)
I have realised that God is constantly watching me, like every minute. How I overcome all obstacles in my life has to be through His mercy.
As i watch everyone else’s desires seem to be easily at reach for them, and mine seem to going at a slower pace saddens me, but God has a better plan and I’ll keep waiting patiently..
Alyssa- This post has spoken to me in so many ways. Just yesterday I had a conversation with the guy I love and want to spend the rest of my life serving The Lord with. I am a sophomore in high school and he is a junior and we are patiently waiting for the right time to begin a relationship that will last. We know high school is not the right time for us… but waiting for years is going to be a tough feat. There is uncertainty in whether we will ever be together, but as for now I will spend time seeking after Gods truths and resting in Him. Thank you so much for everything you and Jef post… You two have given me so much great advice and lead me in The Lord from far away. Thank you!
Wow Alyssa, That was so inspiring … I am going through that time of singleness … feeling like i will be forever alone. The last guy i dated I was so sure that he is/was the one that was going to be my future husband .. I still feel it. My heart breaks … I grasp onto the Lord daily, I have to to keep strength. I can so relate to where you were in your time of singleness. Thank you for sharing this. God Bless you.
This is so good, thanks Alyssa for allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you in writing this blog it’s exactly what I needed to hear (well read). I am in a period in my life where God has given me a couple of promises and I’m waiting for them to come pass. Waiting is the hardest part but I know it’ll be worth it thank You Jesus!
Wow, Alyssa, wow. I am so encouraged by you! You are such an amazing role model, and I wish more girls knew about you! Instead we look up to people like Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, etc. We should be looking up to women like YOU who love the LORD, and go running to Him on a daily basis! I wish we could meet up sometime and just chat, but alas, this will have to do. You radiate the love of God, Alyssa. I pray that you and Jeff will have a great time raising your baby and growing together in the LORD. 🙂
So encouraging to read someone who felt exactly what I’m feeling waiting for a husband even down to feeling like you can’t breathe and open bible and journal filled with tears. Love your blogs! Encourages me when no one else understands
Oh my gosh, this just blew my mind. How cool is it that you are living out this dream?? impacting people like you just impacted me. I long for that as well as a husband. I am recently going through a very similar circumstance but I’m still at the sitting-in-bed-crying-over-your-journal-stage. I am ok, I know that God is working everything together for my good but ALL DAY, I go from being ok, to being utterly alone or sad…. and then I go back to being ok. It’s a rollercoaster of emotion and I think that God is that OK feeling. Comforting me, telling me He has a reason for this.
The longing/desire for a family and husband is unreal. It’s not sadness really but an soul wrenching feeling of something missing yet there isn’t really much I can do about it but continue to love The Lord and live day by day the best I can…. I was only saved a year ago but since then I can definitely say my desire for a husband has grown tremendously, he is simply saying “wait, there is more work to be done first.” 🙂 (or so I like to think)
Your blog is absolutely a gift from God. We should thank him for EVERYTHING, so I’m thanking him for you and your wonderful family.
God Bless, Shea
At such a time like this! Alyssa, I just stumbled on this blog. I will definitely be a frequent visitor. For once I have envied somebody for being a Christian and asking will I ever come to a point of clutching my Bible with my journal, remonstrating and claiming the promises of God. Thanks for the encouragement. I will renew my relationship with my Saviour Jesus Christ a new. God bless you. God keep you.