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PROGRAM D-7189
Did you ever let your imagination run away with you? Our friend, Fran, is having that problem. She met a man at church who showed her some attention, and from that she’s already planning the wedding in her mind. Though she waits hopefully all evening, David doesn’t call, and now she’s finally talking with Jesus about it. Though she doesn’t hear an audible voice, the Spirit of God residing in her imparts truth to her as though it were directly from the lips of Jesus.
He reminds her that she has allowed herself to blow this whole episode up into something much more than it ever was. If you let your imagination run wild, it easily gets into untrue thinking and that kind of thinking can cause you to do things you normally wouldn’t think of doing.
“So, what you’re telling me, Jesus, is that I’m beginning to make a fool out of myself over this man,” Fran says quietly.
“Well, we’re not at that stage yet, but you’re headed in that direction. You’ve let your imagination read a lot into one brief conversation with a man you really don’t know, Fran,” Jesus explains to her.
“But it felt so good to have that male attention,” Fran says, brushing away a couple of tears.
“I know,” Jesus responds. “I understand your need for male attention; but you can trust me to meet your needs, and even if there isn’t another man in your future, I am capable of fulfilling you and making your life very meaningful. Will you trust me?”
“Yes,” Fran says, with the tears freely flowing now, “I will trust you, but I can’t imagine living the rest of my life without a husband. I’m lonely; it’s not fun being single in a married world.”
“Well, you don’t have to live the rest of your life, Fran,” Jesus says very kindly, “just today. I’ve gotten you through the last few years; I can get you through today.”
“But, Lord, I want to know: are you saying I may have to be single forever?” Fran asks, with fear in her voice.
“I’m saying you can trust me, whether single or married,” Jesus replies.
“But, Lord, if I just knew someday I would be married, I could be happy waiting, even for lots of years—if I just knew,” Fran says.
“And if you knew, you would never have to walk by faith, would you Fran,” Jesus says.
“Besides, you don’t need to know the future; you just need to know that I’m going to be with you through all your futures, and I’ve promised to take care of you. Furthermore, I’ve told you that I have good plans for you; you can trust me.”
“But what if your plans are for me to be single?” Fran repeats. Her fears of singleness are showing, and she struggles to understand how to trust Jesus for her future.