A delicious thing to chew on, Shelby. Thank you for that:)

Although she knew of his love, passion, and intimacy, there was relational distance, and she didn’t fully understand why.

The smitten Shulamite was also not recognized by Solomon’s companions, she was veiled from their sight, even when she was in his presence.

Today we ‘see’ her as us, we are the smitten Shulamite. Searching for our Lover touch, desiring greater intimacy, desiring to see Him face to face, and to have the unending pleasure of His presence, and Love. Yes today these qualities are ours for the taking, but we also know there is more…much more.

Likewise we move about this world, and for the most part we are ‘veiled’, unseen by His companions. We can take great comfort in our anonymity, for her plight is ours also.

There is much more to this story of stories, and we ‘impatiently’ await the next posting.

Thank you so very much Pamela for your ministry of Love.

In the words of the Shulumite we find the secret of the not turning aside ” O you whom my soul loves”. She does not say “whom my soul ought to love, or “desire to love”, but “that my soul loves”.
And loving Him she desires to feed where He feeds and rest where He rests. And so it is with ourselves, it is the love of Christ filling our hearts alone, that keeps our hearts from turning aside. And yet can’t each of us confess, often we are ” as one that turns aside” to feed and rest in the earthly things? We feed in the husks of this poor world and wonder of little spiritual progress. The philosophy of this world can’t attract and less feed the souls of the lovers of Christ. If we say ” O You whom my soul loves” we will surely desire the heavenly food and the divine rest. Desire for spiritual food is the best antidote for turning aside to earthly supplies.

This is our wilderness, the perception of abandonment by the physical body alone. Jesus also experienced this on the cross.

Our hope is the exclusive perception by the Spirit He caused to live in us, itself crying “Abba! Father!”

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’. Amen! Come Lord Jesus!”

How wonderful it is to know that ‘God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, HOW WILL HE NOT WITH HIM FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS? (Romans 8:28-32)

Thank you Pam…very encouraging. :)

Without patience we won’t achieve anything in the kingdom of God! Walking with our God always involves the suffering/death of our self-life… and right, this is highly uncomfortable and painful….we don’t like it at all.
Whenever suffering or a need shows up we want to get rid of it asap… and we get frustrated and even depressed if the reality doesn’t give us any hope our dreams and wishes here will ever come to pass.
We wait… and wait… and wait… weeks… months and years pass by… and we wait… wait… wait! Will He ever come? Will my longing ever be satisfied?
Recently a dear friend mentioned the above quotation and it immediately blew open a door of deeper understanding: In waiting on Him and in the process of waiting lies our very LIFE!
Unfathomable things are accessed by nothing else but waiting! Blessed the one who learned to abandon the own desires and longings and found contentment in waiting!

When we can’t achieve anything worthy with our own action, why is it so difficult to wait on Him?

Our very life – the love of our life – the possessing of true life (what no eye has seen and no ear has heard!) waits for the ones WAITING on the Lord…. the ones that overcome their own life by waiting – ON A PROMISE!

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who WAIT for him. (Is. 64:3)

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” >>IN<>BY US<< to the glory of God. (2.Cor. 1:20)

God did His part IN Christ and now it needs our 'Amen'… our patient waiting on Him… to see the IMPOSSIBLE to come true…

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. WAIT FOR THE LORD; BE STRONG AND TAKE HEART AND WAIT FOR THE LORD! (Ps. 27:13+14)

I will wait for the Lord, even He hides His face before me. I will put my trust in him. (after Is. 8:17)

… and so it's no wonder patience is closely knit with TRUE LOVE! The ultimate God has for us is spiced by the herb of patience to reach maturity in excellence!

Thanks for this great post, Pam!