My Knight in Shining Armor

I  always told God that if only I had a man in my life, I would be braver, steadier, and with the guiding presence of a person who is stronger than me, clearer minded, and competent, I would be eternally happy and would want for nothing. My own female failings, emotional instability, anxiety and doubt, were things I could work out and conquer by myself…but for those other, specially male characterized gifts, (courage, leadership, strength, focus, security, protectiveness, heroism, nobility, etc) I told God that those deficiencies in my life would only be solved if he blessed me with a man. Until then, I was just a halfies...not complete.

So while I sat in my opulent tower, keeping a weather eye on the horizon for my prince charming, God decided to teach me something.

In a flurry of lessons, trials, struggles, battles in which the weapons were far more deadly than swords, I found myself pulled out of my tower to fight tooth and claw against an array of enemies. Orges, dragons, wicked witches, garden gnomes, ferbies… you name it, I had to fight it. It wasn’t too horrible. I, being a rather fiery, Joan of Arc sort of spirit was not one to back down in female fainting fits when a man wasn’t around to save me. I plowed on ahead, rather grudgingly, but still, I plowed through the fray…. All the while wondering where my prince was and why on earth I was having to do his job.

After a recent defeat of a terrible troll, I crossed my arms impatiently and looked up to God.

“Father, “ said I, “why am I having to do all these missions alone? Yes, I am braver now, I am more focused and strong, but I still need a prince in my life to make me whole. Where is my prince? Who is going to protect me?”

Then God decided to teach me another thing.

It was then that a horrible, brutal army from the north swept through my peaceful, comfortable land. A mass of the foulest, most vile creatures swarmed upon the vast land before me like a deadly plague. I found myself standing alone before them. Sword in hand, trembling and fumbling awkwardly with my useless weapon I tried to bravely face the swarm …. The enemy began to charge toward me.

“You see! I need my prince! Where is my prince!” I cried in anguish. I need him now more than ever to save me! I couldn't win this battle! I felt terror paralyze every inch of my body as I stood helpless before the charging foe. I knew…death was coming. And then, God stepped down from heaven and in one swift, fiery hand smote every single enemy.

All was silent. I looked up and saw that nothing of my greatest terror was left to pursue me. My sword did not have to touch another; I did not even have to move…God did it all for me.

“Do you see, Jennie?” I heard him say. “You don’t need a man to protect you. Because I am here and I will always protect you.”

 Understanding then dawned upon me. God was right…. I didn’t need a man to save me when I had the most powerful, most loving Savior already! I began to realize that even though God had not given me yet an earthly knight to bless me with the joys and talents of a man, God was teaching me that not only could I learn how to be strong on my own, but that I didn’t need a human man to protect me. I had an almighty, powerful God who could sweep away the deadliest army in one swift motion!  It’s really funny how God sometimes has to send you tons of trolls to fight or battles to conquer before your silly brain gets the picture of his plan. But I am grateful. I have now found a Prince who loves me enough to save me, fight for me, and even die for me.

What a blessed Princess, am I!