Alisson's Story-4

(Continuing from Alisson's Story-3)

 ...Later that night Julie dragged me to the BCM on campus. She said fellowship would be good for me. Surprisingly, the message turned out to be about relationships, and how without God they are like a flat tire- going nowhere. During worship the band sang “Open Hands,” by Matt Papa. As soon as I heard it tears started streaming down my face.  How could God’s grace be so good but so painful?  Julie just wrapped her arm around me tight and we sang together. After the song was over she turned to me and said, “Wasn’t that awesome?” I looked at her and said, “It feels so much better when it’s not conviction but grace.” 

 Later that night I was talking to Mandy about how broken I felt. She told me to let God comfort me! “How do you do that?” I asked.  She told me to start reading in Isaiah 40 which is about God comforting His people. I told her I didn’t understand and that I would talk to her more about it in the morning.

          The next morning I was up and reading some of Mandy’s blogs and came across the last of a series she was finishing about Samson being mad at God. All of a sudden a light bulb came on in my head. I was mad at God for answering my prayer! I’m sure God was just shaking his head at me thinking, “Women… they never know what they want.”  

After I realized I was mad at God I began to feel bad and immediately made it right with Him.   After I did this I went to do my quiet time and figured I’d give Isaiah 40 and on another try. It finally made sense! Isaiah 41:10 told me to fear not for God was with me! But the big one that caught my eye was in Isaiah 14-18. Through this verse God showed me that there was more pain in the break up because I wasn’t obeying Him before.  Then He said when you get tired of making your own plans and you get too overwhelmed, I’m here and I won’t leave you!  He also told me that He will open doors and rivers where you never imagined!  God was there to take care of me.

Sometimes I think we forget that God created the universe and everything in it. Mathew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest,” and that is exactly what I am doing. 

Maybe you too, like Alisson are running from God.  Maybe you aren't seeking his will in a certain area of your life, therefore you feel like he is far from you.  Whatever your situation,  you can find the same freedom Alisson did if you just let God be God.  Lay down your heavy loads, your burdens, your fears, your idols--everything.  Lay it down and pick up God's will.  Freedom comes in letting go and letting God.

This is the last post on the series of Alisson's story.  I really recommend you sit down and read all 4 parts in one setting some time.  It brought tears to my eyes and reaffirmed God's amazing love and grace for us.  If you have a similar story to share, comment below or email it to divinedatingforgirls@gmail.com.  God bless.

Alisson's Story

Over the next week or so I will be posting a series about one girl’s struggle and success to finding God’s peace in her dating life.  This wonderful girl’s name is Alisson, and she will be narrating the story.  My prayer is that if you don’t know God, you will want to after reading this, and if you do know God, you will desire Him more because of his works through my friend. 

The story begins at a Christian leadership camp in Oklahoma.  A few months ago Alisson and my friend Julie met each other in a “family group” at camp.  (Julie’s story can be read here.) Alisson and Julie soon found out they found out they were going to the same college in the fall.

During that week Alisson began to be convicted about her boyfriend because he wasn’t a spiritual leader to her. During one of her quiet times she came across a verse many of you have heard of, but the meaning is often over looked. Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”  Many people don’t realize the second part of this verse is a choice. Just like we have a choice whether we want to go to heaven or hell, we also have a choice to trust God’s direction or not.

Following the sound of God’s voice, Alisson called her boyfriend, Tate later that day and broke up with him.  After begging and pleading his excuse to keep her with him was “You never told me you wanted to be lead spiritually!”

Girls you shouldn’t have to ask to be led spiritually.  Later that evening Tate called Alisson over and over again, telling her that he was going to change. Because that was exactly what she wanted to hear, she jumped for it, and as time went on he did change and he did  stop drinking, but only because she had begged him too, not because he was in love with the Lord.

(Alisson’s narrative begins..)

                When the first week college rolled around, one of the first things I did was visit Julie at her dorm.  As soon as I walked in, she asked me about Tate.  I told her that he was the perfect one for me and that we were talking about getting engaged and making plans for marriage!  Apparently Julie had had this on her heart because she immediately started telling me why I shouldn’t marry him and used scripture to back up her reasons. At this time I realized she wasn’t joking, she was serious.

She then shared a passage with me from Matthew 8:23-27 basically asking me where my faith was. In this passage Jesus calms the storm. However, if you remember once the storm arrived Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples ran to Jesus to wake him up saying, “Save us Lord; we are perishing!”
“Why are you afraid, o you of little faith,” said Jesus.
At this time Julie looked up from her bible and said, “You don’t trust God do you?” As I began to speak she jumped in again, “…with everything?  Do you trust that God will be enough for you until He brings you your prince charming?”

 I responded, “No. My biggest fear is that I will end up single.”  She then showed me an illustration with her computer desk and a bottle of nail polish remover.  The nail polish remover represented me. She then placed it at the edge of the desk; half on and half hanging over the edge.  She looked at me and said, “This bottle is you-- you trust God with some things, but you don’t trust him with everything.” 

 At that moment Galatians 1: 10 popped in my head:“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” 

Who am I pleasing? Me, Tate, or God?

I went home to dig into God’s word and seek his direction. That night God showed me verse after verse telling me that I needed to trust Him and let Him have the controls for the rest of my life. Some of the verses I read that night were found in Psalm 9:10,10:4, 18:30 ,Psalm 19:14, and Psalm 20:6-7. That night God forgave me for being away so long, and I committed my life to doing His will.

(To be continued...)

Have you ever felt convicted by God about who you are dating?  Ever broke up with someone because God told you to?  Do you have a hard time letting go of what you want and grabbing on to what God wants?  Why?  What causes you to doubt?  Is singleness your biggest fear?

"Life is like..a movie?"

So, I know I said this week would be all about movies, but what I am about to write isn't exactly what I had in mind, however I feel like I should share it with you all.

The past few weeks of my life have seemed like a movie themselves. 2 weeks ago I had the most intense week of my LIFE. I went through what seemed like a roller coaster, I had extremely joyous moments, and then I had very painful crushing moments, back and forth all week long.

On Monday of that week i got into a major fight with my best friend for the first time ever.

Tuesday I found out I was flunking Spanish and I made an F on my first test, Wednesday I was

overwhelmed with joy by seeing some special friends of mine, who I

have prayed for for years, start to seek God with all their heart. Thursday I was informed I have to take yet another semester of Spanish when I thought this would be my last. I know that sounds dramatic, but it seriously broke my heart. :( Also Thursday I found out I won a prestigious award! Friday I got to have 2 really intense, God-inspired conversations with 2 people who are placed very heavily on my heart and in my prayers--that was DEFINITELY the high of the week!!

Throughout all the chaos and drama of that week, I really felt like I grew a huge leap closer to God. He taught me about patience, forgiveness, humility, and discernment. He taught me to rely on him more for inner-strength, and to trust him even when I have no idea what's going on in my life. I was amazed with how God worked through the craziness of the week.

Sunday after that I was exhausted but ready for the next week. Monday morning I got prayed up and prepared! However as last week went on, it seemed not quite as crazy as the week before, but still pretty intense. Praying about my living situation, getting extremely home sick like never before, learning things about myself I never knew, and lots more. I feel like God had a few major things he started to reveal to me last week. There were 2 or 3 themes that kept coming up at bible study, discipleship, and worship. Every time I talked with one of my spiritual leaders i felt God nudging me more and more into this openness of dealing with things. I haven't understood what he is doing yet, but I feel like this week and next week will be intense learning from God. Prayers

would be appreciated on this!

I guess the point of this is, that life can be crazy. No wait, life usually is crazy--almost like a movie at times. The only sane thing in our lives is what never changes, and that is Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8.) When it feels like your friends hate you, your parents don't understand, and boy don't pay attention to you..know this: God is ALWAYS there. Don't think of that as a cliche either. Know without a shadow of a doubt that

you receive that F and your heart is broken, GOD CARES. Look upward and pray to him. Tell him your hurts, your pains, your desires. Let him cleanse you and then get up and let him instill his power within you so you can march on toward the goal (Philippians 3:14.) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7.) Amen!

Guys the ONLY way I have gotten through the last two weeks is my dependence on God. If I wasn't a strong believer of God and what he can do I probably would have sunk into depression. God is the only thing that I can depend on, and that makes him the one thing I seek after with all my heart and soul. Do you know him like that?

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Has your life been like a dramatic movie lately? Maybe a horror film? How did you handle it?

Could it have turned out better if you would have depended on God a little more?

How bout memorizing a verse to quote every time you need reassurance.

Psalms 73:23-26

"Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever."