A Bride of Convenience

I’m not alone. God’s presence is with me wherever I go.

Their marriage would fare much better if they built it upon a foundation of trust and friendship.

The fishing, like hockey, was another way he bonded with the men in the community. He only wished the bishop could see the benefits of building relationships. As a result of their trust, the men came to him when they had problems and listened when he shared God’s truth. He’d witnessed numerous souls repent of wandering away from God and place their hope in Him.

You might still be running away from God. But He’s never left you, and He’s waiting for you to seek Him again.

Lord,” he whispered, “do I have enough faith to believe that if you called me to minister in new and different ways, you’ll provide the means for my ministry?

But what if God’s the one who calls us? What if He’s the one who gives us our ministry? If God gives us our ministry, then no one else has the power to take it away. Not even the bishop.

This. This was what it was like to have a family and a home.

Instead of taking the time to present his heartache to the Lord and prayerfully consider what to do next, he’d forged ahead with his own plans in his own way.

Maybe all God required was a willing heart and the trust that He’d work out the rest of the details in His timing and His way.

Surely in this land filled with marriage-hungry men she’d latch on to at least one ready to take a bride of convenience.

Maybe a marriage of convenience to a complete stranger was exactly what she needed to keep from giving her heart away only to have it crushed.

With so many other God-fearing and upright fellows in the colony looking for wives, the women would have plenty of suitable options.

She didn't know how long she'd have him. There weren't any guarantees. But she didn't want to hold herself back from loving him and miss out on the joy and beauty because she was too focused on the dangers.

Lord, give me the courage and strength to seek your kingdom and righteousness first. For you promise that when I do, you'll provide all else.