So your anxious, afraid and worried? In a world that so fervently believes that getting married before the ripe age of 25 is a death sentence for every dream, desire or aspiration you've ever had: including the "happily ever after," what bride-to-be isn't?
When I first told my parents I wanted to get married at just 19, I was met with great opposition. In tears, my mom begged me to wait explaining that we were young, stupid and didn't understand what true love was or how hard marriage would be. I was sure to end up a college drop-out, pregnant and poor.
After 27 years of their own marriage, why wouldn't I listen?
I was never one to defy my parents or disappoint them, why wouldn't I listen?
If waiting wasn't going to ruin our relationship, why wouldn't I listen?
For all those who are considering marriage, there is one piece of advice I have for you: take your will and turn it over to God. You can imagine that after my mom told my dad, who told my sister, I had 3 devastated family members who were anything but encouraging. In that moment, when I called Austin and told him that though we had prayed about marriage and knew that this was the right time for us in God's eyes, it would not be the right time for me. I believed that the testimony was not worth the trial, so I listened to myself instead of my Savior and the pleas of my returned missionary (Who had made the decision on his mission to always follow God's will). But now, I'm here to testify to you that while you may not always know why or how or when, our Heavenly Father absolutely does. Just see James 1:5...
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
For the next couple months, I continued to pray about marriage and was not surprised to find that my Heavenly Father's answer had not changed to accommodate my own. In fact, I learned more in those few months than I had in nearly a year. Being humble enough to trust and follow the Savior comes with time and practice. When you listen, you come to know wholeheartedly that he actually knows exactly what he is talking about. Unfortunately for me, this knowledge came at a point in my life that was now bygone. I am not ashamed to admit that I chose not to listen, because it allowed me to develop a testimony of Heavenly Father's love for us and knowledge of his eternal plan.
I pray that you are or will be strong enough to listen, even if the trial doesn't seem worth the testimony. Our Heavenly Father is a loving and just God. We were not sent to this Earth to be miserable, but to find joy in the things he has so graciously blessed us with, especially our eternal companions.
Yours Truly,
Julie
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
For the next couple months, I continued to pray about marriage and was not surprised to find that my Heavenly Father's answer had not changed to accommodate my own. In fact, I learned more in those few months than I had in nearly a year. Being humble enough to trust and follow the Savior comes with time and practice. When you listen, you come to know wholeheartedly that he actually knows exactly what he is talking about. Unfortunately for me, this knowledge came at a point in my life that was now bygone. I am not ashamed to admit that I chose not to listen, because it allowed me to develop a testimony of Heavenly Father's love for us and knowledge of his eternal plan.
I pray that you are or will be strong enough to listen, even if the trial doesn't seem worth the testimony. Our Heavenly Father is a loving and just God. We were not sent to this Earth to be miserable, but to find joy in the things he has so graciously blessed us with, especially our eternal companions.
Yours Truly,
Julie
Love this �� thanks Julie
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