Got a Match?

His baby brother was getting married. Married? MARRIED! It was hard to believe. The squirt wasn't even 21, but he was tying the knot. As best man it was his job to make sure he got to the church, in the right clothes and at the right time. After all, his soon-to-be sister-in-law would kill them if they messed up.

He hated wearing a "monkey suit," but the bride gets what the bride wants, so . . . into a tux they all go. Crazy things were special ordered--drop bow ties, vests, cuffs without buttons . . . all the things she wanted. At least they got to wear boots--freshly polished with a high sheen, of course. He hoped his brother knew what he was doing.

They spent most of the day, running errands, goofing around, and washing the car. He worried a bit about people "decorating" the car. Crazy brother talked him into buying the thing, so that once the bride and groom got their car--safely stashed away from the church--he had to clean up the car. Nobody better mess with it too much. He really didn't want to have to wash it again.

Finally it was time to go to the church and get ready. The tuxes had been late arriving and they hadn't tried them on yet. Something didn't look right. Those pants looked awfully long. Maybe he picked up the wrong pair. The waist was right. He slipped them on. They were a good six inches too long. He looked like he was wearing hand-me-downs, but the other tall groomsman was "wading water!" His pants were a good foot short.

The three men stood laughing at one another. One with his pants leg dragging the ground covering his feet, looking like flippers and the other's pants cropped so short they barely covered his knees. Pointing, laughing, they were having a good time poking at each other . . . until they realized they had to tell the bride.

Man, was she going to be mad! They would rather wear their blue jeans anyway, but she had her heart set on these silly tuxes. Uh, who was going to tell her? The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. The bridal shop should have had the tuxes ready to try on two days earlier, but they had messed up. Now his baby brother's wedding was going to be messed up and one unhappy bride.

The three men looked at each other. Not wanting to admit defeat they brainstormed. "Got a match? We could just burn the pants! At least then we don't have to tell her what happened. Maybe we could . . . I'm not going out there like this . . . She is going to be so mad . . . you go tell her . . . she's going to be your wife . . ."

About that time, there was a knock on the door. The bride's best friend stood on the other side. "She sent me to check on you guys and make sure everything is . . . ." She dissolved in laughter as the guys opened the door, standing there in high waders and draggy pants. "Oh, no!"

"We could just burn the pants?"

"She would kill you," the girl replied. Let me go tell her.

Waiting for what felt like hours, they kept an ear near the door waiting to hear the explosion when the bride heard about their predicament. Someone knocked on the door. They all jumped. Cracking the door a bit, she stood there in front of them.

"Get out here and let me see!" Sighing, she knelt and began tugging and pulling on the pants.

"We could just burn them?" he offered tentatively.

She stood, placed her hand out, "give me the pants." Huh? "Give me the pants." Both men sheepishly turned back into the room and then handed the offending pants to the bride. "Stay put. I'll be back in ten," and walked off, pants in hand.

Ten minutes later, the best friend knocked on the door again. Handing over the newly hemmed pants she said "Got a match? What were you thinking? Needle and thread is all it took to fix your silly pants. They are designed with adjustable hems. Now get dressed. We have a wedding to do."

So often in life we are so focused on the immediate, what we are feeling, how it affects us that we don't see the provision God has right in front of us. It is easier to destroy something, or walk away, or "get a match" than to seek help.

No matter how big or little; no matter how important, embarrassing, or disappointing our problem is, we have a resource--God. God is our provision . . . our "go to" . . . our comfort. God always has a way.

Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans. Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and don't return there without watering the earth, making it conceive and yield plants and providing seed to the sower and food to the eater, so is my word that comes from my mouth; it does not return to me empty (Isaiah 55:9-10).

God already has our provision. Sometimes, we just have to be faithful in seeking God in order to find what is ready for our need.

God, when we get so frustrated, or embarrassed, or hurt, or scared, help us to stop and see you. We know that we are never alone. You are always with us--guiding us, preparing for us, walking with us no matter what life throws as obstacles in our way. Help us to lean upon you and trust you . . . even on our worst days. So be it. Amen.