The other night I had this dream: I was in this crowded store with my mom and my sister. It was full of all kinds of things and we all scattered around and began to shop. As I was looking around I began to pick out things that I would need to be a bride. I didn’t want my mom or my sister to know because I felt like it was wrong to be planning on being a bride when no one had asked me to marry them. This lady in the store asked me to try on this wedding dress and she was wearing one too. My mom came over to me and was telling me how beautiful it was but when I looked in the mirror I only felt foolish for having it on. My mom started taking me around the shop to pick out things for my marriage because she had known all along that that is what I had been doing; but I just kept telling her how I didn’t even know if anyone was coming for me so how could I be a bride?
I woke up feeling sad and frustrated that I was wearing that dress and preparing for something that sometimes seems like Im getting further from rather than closer. I have grown up watching my cousins walk down the aisle wearing beautiful wedding dresses at young ages and have often struggled with wondering why no one has chosen me me? Am I worth coming after?
But God has been really using this dream that I had to show me so much. He has been showing me that I was right to prepare and that it doesn’t matter when or even if anyone is “coming” for me- I am still being called to prepare for a marriage because His call for my life is to be His Bride. I don’t have to wait to be asked because I have already been chosen.
… and he cannot keep his eyes off of me because he made me beautiful and he pursues my heart every single moment of every single day.
“As a young man marries a young woman, so your Builder will marry you: as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you” Isaiah 62:5
I don’t have to any longer hope to one day be a bride because there is a groom waiting for me this very moment at the end of an aisle calling me to Him. His gaze is upon me and he has clothed me in white and I will wear the dress he bought for me with His own precious blood. In the dream I felt foolish for wearing the wedding gown but he has been showing me that He has made me worthy to wear the dress and that when I wear it He calls me Beautiful.
I am 23 years old and today and I am getting married. He has been waiting for me. I have been unfaithful like the kings of Israel but he is my redeemer… his gaze is upon me.
“Hallelujuah! For the Lord our God reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted to her to clothe herself with fine linen bright and pure” – Revelation 19:6-8
My mom was right in my dream, it is time to prepare because a marriage IS coming. In this reality being a bride is something I may do once but in His reality being a bride is who I am, so it is time to look into the eyes of my king… and to offer him my whole heart as I become his bride.
First of all, a gracious thank you for re-inviting me into your beautiful blogging heart thoughts. And secondly, thanks for having ears that still hear the whispers of your Beloved. It’s an exciting belief to know that someday we’re ALL going to be present at each other’s wedding and that NONE of us will just be bridesmaids on the side witnessing someone else’s commitment of covenant love.
but going back to your dream….I would love to see the dress you picked (smile)
Hi Cherise – it’s good to see you back on and sharing your thoughts. What a beautiful picture of a spiritual reality! Truly you are chosen, as are each of God’s precious children. You are a lovely bride prepared for good works to glorify your father in heaven. Finding satisfaction in that is challenging at times, but fully satisfying. Hold on to that picture and that truth. Thanks for sharing it with other girls! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I can’t believe you’re 23… you were just 10 last time I saw you 🙂 Come to NZ!
My Dear Cherise,
Beloved Daughter and Bridegroom of the Almighty Lord. For what it is worth my journey of saying YES! to Jesus as my bridegroom began at 23 as well. You haven’t seen all of your cousins standing in their wedding dress. 😉 You are not alone in your journey. Their is no two love story’s that are the same and the same is true for God’s journey for us.
I am reminded of the beauty of Christy McBrearty’s 30th b-day. My heart was jealous because last year her birthday party was just that, the day she wore her wedding dress and said YES! to her Bridegroom. It is true that you and I have been chosen by our King and just like an earthly marriage we are called to say YES! to our Love each day.
O what a day it will be when I get to see you standing next to the one who will adore you as much as I do.
YOU ARE LOVED! YOU ARE WORTHY! YOU ARE CARED FOR!
Dearest Cherise what a beautiful picture of us as the bride of Jesus. Your Dad just shared that picture with us yesterday at the Memorial for Terry Pynchon on how beautiful she is now staqnding in the very Presence of our Lord, makes me excited to be HIS bride chosen by Jesus Himself. We are so blessede to be HIS BRIDE now and forever. Thanks for the reminder.
Dear Cherise, I concur with everything that others have replied (esp.reading your blog again). You still amaze me with glimpes of your heart & His. He remains our hope, our peace, our comfort, our reality. So often when I see your name, it transposes in my heart to Cherished…and I am certain that you are by your beautiful Bridegroom. In His love, Sheridan
My sister, your soul is so incredibly beautiful and you know our King so well. I treasure you because you remind me of Him.