Waiting for God's Best

My Street Team girls and I have been doing more than just simple Bible studies together; we’ve been doing LIFE together. These past four years, these eight girls have been sharing the struggles of their confusing, often chaotic lives. We found a common ground when I shared my confusion and sadness of being in my mid-thirties and still single. So early on they understood that there was real pain in my life as well. We often asked each other to pray for heartache in our lives and I would ask them to pray for God to provide a husband for me- His best.

  
When I told them that I was dating Dan, they flipped out! They were full of questions and amazement as we saw God beginning to answer our prayers for my life. We had talked many times about healthy relationships, what to look for in a good boyfriend, and purity while dating. They would even whine, “But, Ms. Jill there aren’t any guys like that in West Dallas!” I felt the say way, “There aren’t any guys like that in their thirties either but I’m still waiting for God’s best for me! I will NOT settle- and you better not either.”  When I began dating, suddenly I had the privilege of living the Biblical truths we had discussed.  For many of them what I was practicing was a very new concept for them. Humbly, God was using me to proclaim His perfect plan for their lives also.

So, when Dan asked me to marry him, it was completely natural for me to involve them in the wedding. They were family to me, and family belongs in every important celebration.  My heart soared the day of the wedding as the girls and I were getting ready for the ceremony. They were my West Dallas Leading Ladies, and they lead the way for the whole wedding party as Dan and I joined our lives together. The pastor even spoke to them directly and asked if they were prepared to fight for me and support me in this marriage covenant even when it got tough. They loudly agreed “WE WILL”!

After the honeymoon, we were able to talk more about the blessings waiting on His timing and His best. I shared how much I wanted them to have a wedding night filled with true love, tenderness, security, and commitment.

Our students desperately need people in their lives who talk about and try to model the life God desires for them. The pain we go through and the failures we experience are used to turn us to Him, and pave the way for healing, forgiveness and restoration. I’m so glad that my pain and my longing for a husband have been lived out for them to see in such a raw form, because I know that God has used my story to speak His truth into their lives. At Mercy Street, God is using broken people to build new leaders for the future of West Dallas.