Be Brave, And Wait

Be Brave, and Wait

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Psalm 27:14

“Mom, can you believe it? All my friends are getting married this year. All of them.” Even though my daughter didn’t say it, I could read her thoughts from her sorrowful gaze. What about me?

It was true. Most (four, to be exact) of my daughter’s closest friends were getting married. And as I gave my daughter a hug, I told her that it would be okay. After all, she was only twenty.

Many young Amish people turn earnestly to the question of family and marriage in the year after receiving the sacrament of baptism. The years in between baptism and marriage can be filled with a variety of experiences available to young Amish adults within the boundaries of social expectations and the Ordnung. Both young women and men can become school teachers, though most teachers today are young women, as in the past. Young people may become full partners in a family business or look for a farm of their own. Some young people hire out as maids in other large households, or go to work in area restaurants and shops that cater to English tourists. Young men may sign on with building crews or become apprentices for a trade with specialists in the Amish community such as the blacksmith or harness-maker.

Running as a theme throughout these days is the search for the marriage partner, the husband or wife who will be a match in purpose for the plain life in the Amish world. All paths have been leading to this end.

God knows that waiting is hard, and that’s why He tells us to be brave and courageous. Being brave isn’t just about stepping out into danger; it’s also stepping back when you’re tempted to make something happen on your own instead of waiting for God. Being courageous isn’t just standing up to an enemy; it’s sitting down and allowing God to do His good work inside you, preparing you for what’s ahead.

Dear heavenly Father, so often I want to run ahead, but Your love holds me back. Today I give You my anxious worries, and thank You for settling my heart.