Designed for Glory

Isn’t it lovely and wonderful the things we can plan and ponder in our creative female minds that seem dreamy enough to have its very own fairy-tale? Even before we were married I couldn’t wait to be the wife of Mr. Martins to soon enough give him a wonderful family to fill his quiver full. With looming discouragement as newlyweds to “wait a while” I couldn’t help but think, we are married now, so why the discouragement? I wasn’t getting any younger, and had longed to be a mother of my own children. I had spent years pouring into other people’s children why couldn’t I now have my own? As time turned a year and a half into our marriage, the tears began to stream on the dreaded day of knowing motherhood was not at the end of the month.

Instead there was the gentle reminder of the unique design of being created female that rendered my heart to cry out to the Lord. So much I wanted to give my husband the gift of being a father, when the Lord whispered quietly to my soul, “you are not the giver of good gifts from above; it is I.” Being still in His presence the Holy Spirit brought to mind James 1:17 that says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” My soul relented to the gentle answer that reminded me of who is in control. It is sobering and comforting to know that God is in complete control of all that comes our way and all that is withheld from us!

As the months passed, the tears continued with each new reminder motherhood was not near. My husband came to my side and held me gently and reminded me of Elkana and Hannah when she so desperately wanted a child, and her husband said to her in 1 Samuel 1:8 “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” This pierced my heart that my longing for a child also communicated to my husband that I was not content with him. My heart ached for how much I was not yielded to the fruit of peace in our circumstances. After much intentional pondering on God’s Word to be content with “just us”, peace flowed like a river. I was filled with joy in the contentment of “just us” and looking forward to how God was going to use us for His glory. I had come to the point of accepting the possibility that we may never be able to have children, and that I would be perfectly content with that knowing that we were in God’s will with our lives, and ready to obey His call.

As Man is designed for the glory of God and a woman is designed for the glory of man according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:7 “…but woman is the glory of man” I was excited to live for this through submission to my husband and God of being content in our circumstances. Hebrews 13: 20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” The tears had ceased, joy was abounding, and in the following month we found out our first child had been sent from God above. As the Lord knew His plans for us all along, He has blessed us with the gift of parenthood. We are designed to showcase the majesty and glory of our creator, to be put on display for those who are watching to know we are set apart for His kingdom, and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Women are not at the bottom of the totem pole according to 1 Corinthians 11, we are the crown made for the crown of man, just as he is the glory and image of God.

Let Glory Shine

• Women are designed for the Glory of Man: Do you submit yourself to God’s voice, His Word, and to the authority of those over you?
• Be still, and know that He is in control: He is the giver of good gifts; we accomplish nothing good on our own.