Author: hcfwomen

There’s something sacred about putting your faith into action, especially when life doesn’t make sense. I’ve come to learn that faith isn’t just a feeling—it’s a decision. A choice we make every day to trust God in the seen and unseen, in the calm and the chaos, in the known and the unknown. And if you’re anything like me, you know just how hard that choice can be when your world feels like it’s teetering on the edge.

I’ve walked through seasons—both in my family and in my business—where nothing seemed certain. Dreams felt fragile. Plans unraveled. And faith? Well, faith was tested in ways I never imagined.

Family is often where we place our deepest hopes and experience our deepest heartbreaks. It’s where love grows, but also where tension can run high when life doesn’t go as planned. I’ve watched loved ones struggle. I’ve prayed through sleepless nights, asking God to intervene, to heal, to restore. There were moments when I questioned if He was even listening. But over and over again, God reminded me that He was not only present—He was working.

Even when I couldn’t see the outcome, God was cultivating growth beneath the surface. The strained conversations, the misunderstandings, the waiting—it was all preparing us for something greater. And now, looking back, I see His fingerprints in every detail. What once felt like a breaking point became a turning point. He brought healing where there was hurt and unity where there was division. His plan, though mysterious at the time, was always greater than my own.

If family is the heart, business is often the hands—building, creating, pushing forward. And just like with family, there have been times when I questioned if I was walking in the right direction. Contracts fell through. Doors slammed shut. Plans I was so sure about dissolved before my eyes. In those moments, fear would creep in, whispering lies that maybe I wasn’t cut out for this, maybe I misheard God, maybe I should just give up.

But again, faith required action.

I learned that faith isn’t about having a backup plan—it’s about trusting God’s plan, even when it doesn’t look like what you expected. Every time I leaned in instead of giving up, God showed up. He sent the right people at the right time. He opened new doors I hadn’t even seen before. He reminded me that obedience always produces fruit, even if the harvest takes time.

I used to think faith was fragile—that it could break under the weight of struggle. But now I see that struggle forms faith. It’s in the tension of the unknown that we’re invited to deeper trust. It’s where God stretches us, shapes us, and strengthens our resolve.

Yes, I’ve cried. Yes, I’ve doubted. But every time I return to the truth that God is for me and not against me, that He works all things together for good, that His timing is perfect and His ways are higher—I find peace. Not because I have all the answers, but because I trust the One who does.

If you’re walking through a season where faith feels hard—whether in your home, your work, or your heart—let me encourage you: God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten you. You may not understand the “why” right now, but one day, you’ll look back and see how it all wove together for your good and His glory.

Don’t stop showing up. Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop praying. Faith in action looks like waking up and trusting God again, even when yesterday didn’t turn out the way you hoped. It’s in the small, daily yeses that the big miracles often unfold.

Remember, His plan always prevails.

And you? You’re not just walking through the unknown—you’re walking it out with HIM. 

We want to thank Beckah Hunt for sharing this post.

Sitting quietly in my front room one morning, before the rest of my family began to stir for the day, I reflected on just how stuck and frustrated I felt. Several things in life weren’t going the way I wanted them to. I was worried, angry, tired – I couldn’t even see how I could push through that day – much less whatever was going to be required of me to push through these less than desirable circumstances. It’s a place we have all been.

I knew I needed faith. I knew I had promises to stand on. I knew I just needed to keep moving forward. And yet, the mountains in front of me seemed insurmountable.

Then I heard it, the voice of my savior. Still and quiet, but undeniable.

“Look at me.”

Right then I knew – I had my focus in the wrong place.

To have faith in action, it does at times require action, but all the time, faith in action comes from a clear focus. A right focus. Faith in action requires us to have our eyes on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2 states “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, ² keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before Him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The author of Hebrews is calling for action. This chapter comes right after what I have heard called “The Faith Chapter,” or “The Hall of Faith,” in Hebrews 11. So now, after reminding us of the great cloud of witnesses that surround us, the author calls us to action. He calls us to do two things – Lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and to run with endurance the race that lies before us.

Chapter 11 calls us to faith, and now in 12, we are called to action – but the instruction doesn’t end there.

In the beginning of verse 2, the author tells us exactly how to run this race of endurance – by keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Faith in action requires us to have our eyes on Jesus. Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Other translations call Him the author, or the founder of our faith. Not only did Jesus pioneer or author our faith – He is the perfecter of it. Perfection takes time, work, repetition. And how is He going to perfect our faith? By reminding us to keep our eyes on Him.

I love where the author of Hebrews goes next. Because the passage doesn’t jump to the victory, or the joy. Instead, there is more remembrance.

Remembrance that our High Priest and King is no stranger to hardship and endurance Himself.

Hebrews 12:2 continues, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

For Christ to endure the cross – to complete the action He was sent here to complete – He had the proper focus. For Him, it was the joy of restoration and relationship with us. For us, our focus must be on Him.

As I sat in my front room that morning, I shifted my focus. I remembered all the times I had seen the Lord fight for me before. All the times I had seen His promises come to pass. All the ways in which He has loved and provided for me – over and over again. And as I did, the mountain shrank. And then I praised Him for who He is – Father, protector, defender, savior – and the mountain shrank. And I thanked Him – for how he would provide again. For how He would fulfill these promises too – and the mountain shrank.

Faith welled up in me, and my fear, my frustration, my exhaustion – fell away. I knew I had what I needed to take my next steps. It was all clear – because I had a clear, right, focus. Because my focus was on Him.

Faith in action comes from a clear focus – a right focus – our eyes on Jesus.

We want to thank Brooke Kellum for sharing this post.

Walking into HCF every Sunday, I see FAITH IN ACTION! I look around and see people making coffee, praying for people and the service, security guys and policemen keeping us safe, greeters with smiles and hugs, golf cart drivers in all kinds of weather, Kid City workers smiling and welcoming kids, connection center willing to help anyone, AV workers setting up, and the worship team practicing and worshiping. Plus, lots of people visiting, smiling, hugging, and sharing God’s love!

Our actions truly do speak louder than words, especially when it comes to sharing our faith! There are many ways to put your faith in action, but here are a few ways we can show our faith in a more profound and authentic way than words ever could.

1. Live with Integrity and Honor – Sometimes it’s easy to say one thing and do another. Living with honor and integrity can powerfully demonstrate your faith.
2. Be Kind – “In a world where you can be anything… be kind.” When we choose to show kindness to everyone, it can be life changing for everyone. And our faith shines through our actions of kindness!
3. Volunteer – When you put your needs aside and volunteer your time, money, and energy it’s a way to show others your faith. So instead of telling people about your faith, you’re living out your faith by serving others. ***BTW – HCF has many opportunities to serve! Please reach out to the church office and they can find a perfect fit for you!
4. Forgiveness – It can be tough to forgive if you are wronged or hurt, but faith allows us to put aside our hurt and choose to forgive and live out our faith through action.
5. Be generous – Generosity speaks volumes about your faith. It’s not just about your money, but it’s about your time, energy, and prayers.
6. Be compassionate – Being compassionate takes your faith and puts it into action through empathy and love.
7. Have Patience – It’s a fruit of the Spirit, and it requires us to take our faith and practice patience in our daily lives.
8. Walk in Humility – When we walk in humility and in God’s word and truth, it shows our faith. We can be respectful, understanding, and open to others’ opinions as we live out our faith daily.
9. Love – Love is key to living out our faith. It’s not just about feelings, but it’s about our actions. It’s a way to show others how much God loves them by loving them through your faith.
10. Share God’s Word – when our faith is put into action, it should lead others to the cross and God’s love, forgiveness, truth, and saving grace!

With all this said, I’m going to challenge you to check your FAITH IN ACTION!

Can people see Jesus in your everyday life? Can they see Jesus in your words and actions? Can they feel love from you that will lead them to an everlasting relationship with Jesus and secure their place with Jesus in eternity?

As we all put these practices into action in our daily lives, we’re not just talking about faith, we are living it out! Remember, it’s not just a destination, but a journey to be more like Jesus in all we do!  Faith is living out what you believe – walking the walk, not just talking the talk.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

We want to thank Bambi Lutrick for sharing this post.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” – Matthew 6:34 (MSG)

Life is full of uncertainties. In my life, it was moving across the state following my husband’s job. We face seasons of joy and abundance, but we also endure trials that shake our faith. In those difficult moments, it’s easy for me to fall into fear, worry, and to give in to loneliness. Yet, Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and will provide for us each day.

The world tells us to have a plan for everything; each move brought us to a new city with the promise of stability for him, but uncertainty for me. We have left friends, support, and family to begin in a town where, for the first few weeks, we must have directions to our own house.  In these times of need for literal directions to know how to navigate our surroundings, we can feel the most alone. However, faith teaches us to trust, even when we don’t have all the answers. Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) says, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

While this did mean I needed to be responsible for the items within my control, such as household, job, and church attendance, I was reminded that my ultimate security is in God, not in our circumstances or location. When we release our worries to Him, we make room for His peace to take over. He never fails to provide opportunities, people, or provisions when we lean into his understanding, rather than relying on our own.

Matthew 17:20 (MSG), “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

For our family, faith is not merely about having every detail and aspect of life neatly arranged; instead, it is about placing our trust in the One who possesses all understanding and wisdom. When all else has failed, showing up and being present in moments with others from school to church has brought clarity when the path is foggy. Embracing the beauty of taking small, deliberate steps of obedience has strengthened each nugget of faith.

The deliberate steps for us have always started with unified prayer. Whether it’s just the two of us or groups of friends or colleagues, there is power in seeking Him. We have also found answers in the Bible, without knowing the next steps on our journey. Right before we were stationed in Odessa, we had been reading about provisions in the desert during the Israelites’ journey. We were both immediately blessed with jobs, found a church, and joined a marriage ministry that filled holes in our marriage we never knew existed. We still credit many of our current marriage practices to that time and the need to lean heavily on God, because He saw us through that season of literal and figurative deserts.

 As I dare to step out in faith, I discover that God meets me with His boundless power and unwavering provision, guiding me through unknown terrain. This was a great comfort when we arrived, since Odessa was a far cry from the lush trees and lakes we left in Austin and the piney woods of Houston. While the number of times you start over and step out may never come naturally (or at least it hasn’t for me), understanding God’s purposeful plan offers comfort.

Even when the turpitude of life remains obscured, trust that God is illuminating the way forward, revealing the next step for you to take. Each act of surrender to Him becomes a thread woven into the larger narrative that He has in store for us. No matter what season you are in, remember that God is faithful. He sees you, He loves you, and “He is working all things together for your good” (Romans 8:28, MSG).

Choose today to walk in faith, not fear, and watch how God moves in your life above and beyond your wildest expectation.

We want to thank Kate McCandless for sharing this post.

“Joy in the journey” sounds like a glorious adventure. The heroes in all the action films make it out okay; even still, they escape with scars, often losing friends along the way. A journey through the mountains displays spectacular views along the way; yet the breathtaking views come at the cost of a pack laden with necessities for survival and often blisters on feet, sunburns on face, perils near the path. A lifestyle in sin seems quite fun in the moment; however, sin goes down smoothly but bites like a poisonous snake (Proverbs 23:31-32).

Real life journeys include wounds so deep, you question if they will ever heal enough to form scars much less allow you to function again. A quest for a spouse can involve waiting longer than desired. A hunt for a career may end in lackluster disappointment. A desire for children may tarry or taunt through infertility or miscarriages. A battle with cancer or other terminal illnesses-no words adequately portray this torment unless you’ve witnessed it first-hand.

And yet! And yet even in these daunting journeys, as believers in Christ, we not only obtain, but also exude joy. You see, joy is so much more than a warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s an outcry of hope, a cheerful, calm gladness that wells up from within.

Joy is so much more than circumstantial happiness. Joy breaks forth from a wasteland (Isaiah 52:9). Joy is oil in place of mourning (Isaiah 61:3). The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10 , Psalm 21:1). Joy is a guttural victory shout erupting after battle. (2 Chronicles 20:27)

Joy is not conditional upon circumstances. In the midst of trials, joy wells up. (2 Corinthians 8:2). In the midst of trials, we are called to joy (James 1:2).

Every journey has brilliant highlights but also daunting shadows. What makes the difference in our journeys is the faith and hope and joy and love that we have in Christ. The questions are: Where are we going to place our faith and hope? What will be our source of joy and love?

Like an aquifer bursting forth to form a freshwater spring, joy emerges from faith and hope in Christ. Like Old Faithful spouting in time, joy marks a person as full of faith and Christ.

I would like to challenge you to read Hebrews 11 and 12 straight through. As I did this, I was reminded of what joy is, and Who the source of joy is. You see, Jesus became human. He became relatable to us in every way. This includes endurance through persecution and hardship. Jesus chose not to focus on the pain and the rending and the scarring that comes with human life. He chose to focus on the joy set before him – the joy that is our salvation.

Here is my walk-through Hebrews 12:1-3 and an application of a deep, resounding joy that supersedes and supplants trials and grief and the temptation to succumb to despondency:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,”
Therefore-as a result of the hall of faith in Hebrews 11. I am also reminded of the testimonies of countless Christian brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage me with their witness, with their testimonies of God’s faithfulness in their lives, of their perseverance in the face of trials. Further still, I recall God’s hand and protection and joy in my own life-His faithfulness to fulfill His promises even when I cannot see a way. As stones of remembrance, His faithful provision fuels my joy and peace and hope.

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”
May I continue to walk in the light as He is in the light. May I shun willful sin and seek to expose any hidden sin. Not only slip off sin casually, but cast it away, so that it wouldn’t become a stumbling block to myself or to others.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
My path is marked – not promised as easy; easy doesn’t take perseverance – marked and beautiful and not to be compared with anyone else’s.

“ fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Locked in! Not to be distracted by sin. So focused on Truth that any counterfeit exposes itself as false. Like Peter when he sees Jesus and not the storm, may my faith, perfected by Him, call me out of the boat of complacency into the journey that God has called me.

“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” For the joy! Joy kept Jesus on the cross. He rose victorious, persevering, enduring, my salvation, my Lord.

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Consider Jesus, my relatable savior who endured with joy. When I consider Him, I won’t grow weary. I won’t lose heart.

May you join this joy-filled journey fueled by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength no matter what your path looks like. May that strength place your feet running on the path set out for you. Like our Savior, may the joy set before you give you strength to endure, to not grow weary, and to not lose heart. With our eyes fixed on Jesus may our joy be so contagious that others desire salvation as well. There is joy no matter the journey.

We want to thank Mary Coleman for sharing this post.

Sitting down and writing this blog was a little more difficult than I was expecting. The Lord asked me to share my journey, and that’s not always an easy thing to do. Some parts of my journey I’ve preferred to keep to myself, but I know in sharing it, it can help someone else along their journey too. So… here goes! 

Rage. Depression. Anxiety. Identity crisis.

Those were never words that I thought would be in my vocabulary to describe my journey through adulthood. When you’re young, you have this picture, or really an expectation, of what you think being an adult will be like. What being in college will be like. What being a wife will be like. What being a mother will be like. And now that I am approaching my mid-thirties, I can honestly say that none of it turned out the way that I had pictured.

In many ways it is so much more beautiful than I could have ever imagined on my own. But there have also been many, many moments where I have had to honestly deal with some really ugly things. I didn’t even know what post-partum depression was until after I had our first child. I didn’t understand why in one of the most joyous times in my life I didn’t even have the strength to get out of bed. I didn’t know what post-partum rage was until after I had our twin boys. I didn’t understand why I suddenly snapped, yelled, screamed at mere inconveniences. I didn’t know what post-partum anxiety was until after I had our youngest. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t go a single day without imagining some of the most ridiculous things happening, while trying to control and make sure they never did.

Not a single one of those things felt like ME. My husband and I had our 4 kids in under 5 years, and I felt trapped in a person that didn’t feel like me – I didn’t even know who I was anymore. I felt so isolated and so alone. I tried so hard to make things look on the outside how I deeply wished I felt on the inside. Until I was too exhausted to carry it anymore. I thought losing weight would help. Making more money. Career promotions. Fitting in. But it was all just temporary. The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and I had to be reminded of that truth. Cue the identity crisis – I had to walk through a lot of things falling apart so that the only One who could, put them back together.

God. In His tenderness and mercy, no rush or urgency. He reminded me of who He created me to be. That I was His. That I was made by Him for a purpose to do good things – the literal skill and precision of His creation (Ephesians 2:1-10). That I was given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). That He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

I had to walk through some difficult things that didn’t seem fair to truly grasp His unfailing love for me. Sure, there were little pockets of joy along the winding way – always because of Him. But because He always works things out for our good, it’s a little easier now to find joy in the journey, because my joy comes from Him and not my circumstances.

We want to thank Paige Keller for sharing this post.

Nehemiah 8:10 (CSB) ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

Our journey through life has a mixture of elations and challenges and how we perceive our challenges can refine us or become a setback. Nehemiah 8:10 mentions that the joy of the Lord IS our strength. 

Every challenge comes with mighty heavenly opportunities to learn, to grow, to gain wisdom, and to testify of God’s goodness. We are all called to a place in Kingdom work and the enemy is hard at work to kill, steal, and destroy our calling and place in the kingdom.

In the very darkest times of my life, and there were many, God was with me; I was repeatedly reminded of this scripture as my peace and strength often waned. My peace and joy were the target of the enemy in the violent battles for my deliverance and wholeness. This scripture was key when the enemy had me pinned down trying to convince me of ways to take my own life, suffering with the many effects of trauma and PTSD, riddled with addictions, perceived failures, and hope was far from me. If the enemy can steal my peace, then he can steal my joy; if the enemy can steal my joy, then I have no strength for the battle. I was literally fighting for my life and needed strength from the Lord. The Lord would remind me to offer a sacrifice of praise, so he could deliver me from my troubles. (Psalms54:6-7, Jonah 2:9) 

Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV) says, “¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” I would stand up, raise my hands up to the Lord and praise Him; I would push through until the sacrifice of praise became heartfelt praise leading to joy, which gave me the strength I needed to continue moving forward.

The Lord’s reminders to me of one day being able to share my struggles to encourage others on their journey gave me hope to stay in the battle and not give up. (2 Corinthians 1: 3-11, Romans 5: 1-5) I find myself at a place where my testimony of the Lord’s goodness, grace, and mercy can and does help many. God is so amazing because after our difficult struggles and we receive the battle scars,He fills the scars with beauty. (Isaiah 61: 3) When God heals and fills our battle scars, this ends up making us seasoned warriors who can then move forward to encourage others in their battles. (Matthew 5: 14-16) 

All of this leads back to the remembrance of where strength for our journey is to be found: the joy of the Lord is our strength. To God be all the glory.

We want to thank Leah Montez for sharing this post.

I often wish for immediate solutions from God. 

Miraculous healing, instant freedom, winning the lottery.. instant fixes!

I’ve asked God multiple times why he won’t “just fix it for me.”

That sounds selfish typing, but it’s the truth. 

What I have noticed is there are blessings that come in the path to freedom or healing that wouldn’t have happened with the instant fix. 

The coffee dates, the prayer and connection with friends or family. 

The feeling of victory to see God’s promise come to fruition. 

The new friendship made over the connection of the struggle. 

The wisdom others speak into our lives when we had a blind spot. 

In Exodus 18:13-27, Moses’s father-in-law Jethro gives advice to Moses who is tasked with leading the Israelites. Jethro sees this will become too much for Moses. Jethro advises Moses to select capable men to help lead and provide counsel so Moses does not become burnt out. 

This story has come to mind frequently lately. When I have a task or issue and I feel like I should be strong enough or have enough faith to handle it on my own or pray for an instant fix. God reminds me to lean in to my husband and community. Every time I do, I am blessed by a prayer, wisdom or insight I wasn’t thinking of or experiencing. 

The Lord is kind, he gives good gifts, and he allows us to experience joy, even in the struggles. 

I hope this can bless you too, especially if you are feeling like you should be able to handle the struggle you are going through on your own. Let people walk with you.

We want to thank Lori Johnson for sharing this post.

I feel that what Papa is saying to me about this subject is best expressed in the words of a song. It is a collaboration between Jeff Pardo, Matthew West, and the artist, Megan Woods. I’m not going to write it in verse, but in narrative form, so we don’t get all bound up with rhyming and such.

How many times can you hear the same lie before you start to believe it? The enemy keeps whispering to me. I swear, these days, it’s all that I’m hearing. I used to know who I was.  Now I look in the mirror and I’m not so sure. Lord, I don’t want to listen to the lies any more.

When I feel like there’s so much noise living rent free in my head, Heaven finds me in a still, small voice, and it sounds like grace instead. You remind me who I am when I look in the mirror and I’m not so sure.  Lord, I don’t want to listen to the lies any more.

I know who I am because I know who You are, and I hold Your truth inside of my heart. I know the lies are always going to try and find me, but I’ve never been so sure.

The truth is, I am my Father’s child. I make Him proud and I make Him smile. I was made in the image of a perfect King. The truth is, I am truly loved by a God who’s good when I’m not good enough. I don’t belong to the lies. I belong to You.

And that’s the truth.

I knew Dan loved me when I asked him if he could change anything about me, what would it be? He said, “Nothing.” It made me love him even more. All Papa God wants from us is to have an intimate relationship with us. If we have that kind of relationship, we will love Him even more. And that’s my eternal perspective.

We want to thank Di Zeigler for sharing this post.

When I hear the phrase eternal perspective, my mind goes to Paul’s words to the Corinthians—that our current affliction is light and momentary and is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory, as we look to the things that are unseen, for these are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

So when we get the bad news, when we’re wading through grief, when we’re in a season of overwhelm with work or kids or whatever—that’s when we remind ourselves: this hard thing I’m going through, it’s light and it’s momentary. Of course, it doesn’t feel that way. It feels awful and impossible and hopeless.

But Paul says our current circumstances are temporary. They’re transient. And he invites us to see the bigger picture. This eternal perspective is often what pulls us out of our hopeless feelings and reminds us to stand on God’s truth as we battle through that difficult season.

As I’ve been asking God what to write for this month’s blog, I’ve been thinking about a different take on eternal perspective. He took me to Matthew 25, the Parable of the Ten Virgins. It describes ten virgins, or ten bridesmaids, who went out to meet the bridegroom. Five are considered wise, for they have oil for their lamps, while the other five are called foolish because they have their lamps, but no oil to replace what’s burned up when the light runs out.

I recently learned that in Jewish culture, there were three phases for the bride and bridegroom. In the first phase, the couple was engaged—this means the fathers had arranged the marriage. The second phase was betrothal—this means the couple had exchanged vows of commitment to one another. The final phase was marriage—this was after a period of time, typically a year, when the bridegroom, who had been preparing their home, would return for his bride, at which point there was a huge wedding feast. The bridesmaids were to watch with their lamps ready and usher in the groom at whatever late hour he arrived.

The bride and her bridesmaids waited with anticipation for the unknown return of the bridegroom. But in the parable, five bridesmaids were prepared while five were not, and for the five that were not, they had to go out and buy more oil. The doors to the wedding feast were shut, and they could not enter. Matthew Henry’s commentary on this parable describes the foolish ones as holding lamps “for show,” or as an appearance of profession, but having “no principle within.”

At the end of the parable, Jesus says, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13). Here and elsewhere, Jesus reminds us that we do not know the day of his return, but make no mistake: He will return. He is coming for his bride—and that’s us, his Church.

We’re told in Revelation 19 that the marriage of the Lamb has come, and “the bride has made herself ready.” Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast! (Revelation 19:7-9)

To live with an eternal perspective means to live with anticipation for the return of Jesus, the bridegroom of the Church. Every. Single. Day.

Will we be ready?

The question is not about works for salvation, but rather the working out of our salvation—that is, our sanctification (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Am I laying myself down as a living sacrifice, as we talked about in Romans 12? Is my life surrendered? Do I allow the Holy Spirit to continually fill me with fresh oil so that my light will not burn out? Who am I influencing? Who am I discipling?

These are questions we should ask every day as we eagerly wait for the return of Jesus. Yes, our darkest and hardest seasons should compel us to look for God’s eternal perspective. But in the every day, the mundane, the easy and the hard—we should filter everything through the final words of Jesus. We know not the hour; watch, therefore.

Let us be the bride, bright and pure, prepared to meet our bridegroom (Revelation 19:8).

We want to thank Laura Brandenburg for sharing this post.