_Captivating_Waiting on Beauty_

"Living in true Beauty can require much waiting, much time, much tenacity of spirit. We must constantly direct our gazes toward the face of God, even in the presence of longing and sorrow. it is in the waiting that our hearts are enlarged. The waiting does not diminish us. As a pregnant woman is enlarged in her waiting, so are out hearts. God does not always rescue us out of a painful season. You know that he does not always give to us what we so desperately want when we want it. He is after something much more valuable than our happiness. Much more sustainable than our health. He is restoring and growing in us an external weight of glory. And sometimes.... it hurts." pg. 143



"Yes, life is harsh on a woman's heart. It has been hard on your heart. The assault on our beauty is real. But Jesus is urging us now to care for ourselves, watch over our hearts (Prov. 4:23). The world needs your beauty. That is why you are here. Your heart and your beauty are something treasured and nourished. And it takes time. Every gardener knows this. In our age of instant makeovers and microwave meals, we don't want to wait. But a newly planted rose's presentation in its first year is nothing compared to its second. If properly cared for, its second year's display doesn't hold a candle to it's third. Gardens need to become established; their roots need to go deep through summer rains and winter frosts. A garden's beauty does not diminish with age; rains and winter frosts; rather it takes years to become all that it can become." pg. 145


My first response to this chapter is: Oh boy.
Honestly, I have never truly been alone, there has always been "someone".
But it's time-God's calling. And for once, I'm running towards Him.
I'm not saying this is going to be easy.
Let me make this clear: FAITH IS NOT EASY.
I am following God's calling knowing He loves me
but it's a whole lot easier to have a worldly love.
Not better, not more satisfying, not more filling, not more romantic-
just easier.

for those who are reading: please keep this in your prayers.