A Shadow Like a Cross

“Give your whole selves to God, as a living gift, holy and pleasing to him.” — from Romans 12

As spring came in 1948, Betty and Jim began to love each other. But they did not know what to do about it. Jim thought God might want him to stay single, so that he could go to hard and dangerous places to tell people about Jesus. He was not sure, and he did not want to make any promises until he was.

On 9 June 1948, just before Betty finished college, they went for an evening walk. For the first time, they told each other how they felt. And Jim told Betty that he could not ask her for anything, or promise her anything.

So they decided to give their love back to God. They thought of the Bible story where Abraham was willing to offer his son Isaac on an altar, and God provided a ram instead. Their love was a precious gift, and so they would offer it back to God. If God gave it back to them, that would be wonderful. If not, they would trust that he had something better.

As they sat talking, the moon rose behind them. It threw the shadow of a big stone cross on the ground between them. Both of them always remembered it. It seemed like a picture of what they had just decided: whatever happened to their love would happen under the cross of Jesus.

Then came years of waiting. Betty went to a Bible school in the cold, snowy prairies of Canada. Jim finished college and went home to Oregon. They wrote letters, but there was no promise. Betty often felt lonely, and the waiting was very hard. But she kept praying, and she kept doing the work in front of her each day.

Sometimes we want something very much, and we have to wait. Giving it to God does not mean we stop caring. It means we trust him to know what is best, and to take care of it for us.

Dear God, when I have to wait for something I want, help me to trust you. I give you the things I care about most. Amen.