Pursuit

Team Noodle Burger works out at my place on Monday nights. Right now, it consists of me, Amy, and Malia. Well, at least we worked out together three Mondays ago.

See, last week, Amy and I waited for Malia to show up, and she just never did. The plan was to start working out at 8. We were watching the clock, sitting in my apartment, and talking about life. We texted Malia and never heard back. At 9, we shrugged and ate the leftover Indian food in my fridge.
Fast forward a few hours to when Amy returned home and told me to check Facebook. As I checked her wall, a much more interesting story unfurled. Here is what really happened.

Malia, prepared to work out and whip us into shape, got into the subway. She threw her water bottle, wallet, and phone into her purse as she checked the time to make sure she wasn't late. After riding through Brooklyn and over to Manhattan, she walked out of the station and toward the church where I live. She reached into her purse to discover a soggy, dysfunctional phone.
Upon reaching my door, she starts ringing the doorbell to no avail. Next, she knocks on the door. She bangs on the side, bottom, and top of the doorbell. This continues for 30 minutes. By this time, she's praying for some sort of miracle. A stranger might walk by, talk to her, and they'll fall in love? Perhaps she'll see some sort of amazing sign? Or, just maybe, we'll walk downstairs and see her? After an hour of pulverizing the door, window, and doorbell, Malia got down on her knees and started shouting my name through the mail slot. Amy and I were too busy eating Indian food and talking to even bother checking the front door for Malia.

For whatever reason, guys don't pursue me. Aside from my high school boyfriend, no one has asked me out on a date. Multiple guy friends tell me that I'm awesome and want me to marry their best friends. Parents tell me to date their sons. But, I don't have much luck with the guys themselves. This is a fact of my life; I dwell on more important topics. However, a last week, I was already beating myself up emotionally, so I tossed in the guy card for good measure. I prayed and asked God why I am never pursued. I don't say this to complain OR to advertise myself for a date; I'm saying this to make a point. Hang in here with me. I have no idea who actually reads these, so I feel the need to add disclaimers. Moving forward.

I am a single Christian woman, which means people quote Psalm 27:14 to me frequently. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." First of all, I am certain that David did not write that verse with single women in mind. Secondly, the Bible does not say anything about God creating a husband for me. If he exists, I'm sure God is working on him somewhere, but I'm more concerned with pursuing Christ than daydreaming about maybes.

However, I learned a lot about waiting from Malia. We are told to wait for the Lord. Amy and I waited for Malia, kind of. We talked about her. We scattered some text messages into the cosmos. But, we didn't act like we expected her to show up. If we did, we would have been downstairs by the door in our athletic clothes.

"I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.' " (Revelation 3:19-20)

I get frustrated when I think about how "no one ever pursues me so I must not be pretty/funny/smart/skinny/athletic/talented/quiet/loud/outgoing/boring/whatever enough". And then, I remember something much more important: "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). I AM pursued. Jesus loved me first. He loved me when I did not deserve anything and had nothing to offer.

He comes and knocks. Do we expect him to show up?
Are we by the door ready to live this out, or do we chill upstairs talking about him?

To add to that, do we believe that he'll answer our prayers? Are we preparing ourselves to receive what we've asked for?

I pray to have the privilege of being a wife and a mother one day. I believe that God answers prayer and knows what he's doing, so I'm preparing myself for those responsibilities right now. If I am single forever, I'll adopt children and still utilize the disciplines I am learning. Godliness is always applicable and beneficial.

I'm praying for so many things, and I know that God will come through for me, so I'm getting ready for him to answer.


We prepare for the One who pursues us. He won't be late, we just need to be ready for His arrival.