Headed to the Heavenly Chapel
In a hard season marked with setbacks, confusion, grief, and an abundance of unanswered questions, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to draw a wedding dress. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, but one morning, I took out a piece of lined notebook paper and began sketching a long and flowy white dress. Holding the pencil loosely, I drew a plunging back, thin straps, and a short train. Completely wrapped up in the moment, I added tiny details to the dress, sketched my arms and shoulders, and long, wavy hair with a flower tucked behind my ear. With each stroke of the pencil, my worrisome thoughts calmed, and an indescribable sense of peace washed over my soul.
When I finished, I held the paper out and examined it like a mother does with her child’s artwork. I felt the Lord encouraging my weary soul to keep dreaming, praying, and praising because this trial was not the end of my story. I knew The Father was telling me to get up and keep going. Timidly nodding in agreement with the Lord, I began to picture myself walking on a sandy beach in that brilliant white dress. Slowly but steadily, one foot in front of the other, until I was running straight into His arms.
This soul-stirring vision lingered in my mind as I opened my laptop to begin my day’s work. And there it was on the first website I visited—my dress. The same back, straps, and flowy train were covered in this beautiful intricate lace. It was more stunning than anything I could imagine. It reminded me of Paul’s encouraging words in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
Friend, if you are barely treading water today. If your heart is grieving, your body exhausted, and your mind consumed with fear and worry, I want you to know that Christ’s love for you is vast, well beyond anything you could imagine. I’ve heard His love described as an ocean without shores, and I can’t think of anything more fitting as we try “…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18). You are His beloved, cherished, and valued, and His love will always be there for you, a constant source of comfort and strength.
This trial is not the end of your story. Remember, the Father alone determines the ending of this story, and spoiler alert, Jesus wins! His victory is our hope, our reassurance. If all you can do is sit, then sit at the feet of Jesus. If you can manage to crawl, then crawl. If you can walk, take one step before the other until you can run. Whichever way you get there, always keep moving toward Jesus because you have a wedding celebration to attend! On the other side of our earthly tribulations is a Husband waiting for His bride to come home. Home, sweet home.
Question for Reflection:
Take a moment to close your eyes and envision yourself clothed in “fine linen, bright and clean,” running toward Christ and embracing Him. Does it make you feel hopeful, worthy, and loved? Hold tight to this vision and feeling and revisit it often.
