Tom and Rachel Eldredge's Testimony
November 1999
With thankful hearts we both stand amazed at how God has brought us together and would like to share what He has done in our lives.
Tom's Testimony:
Growing up, I’ve had a great relationship with my Dad and a mutual understanding that he would help with advice and guidance when it was time to find a wife. I’m an easy-going guy and knew Dad would give me a nudge when I needed it! Trusting the Lord to bring the right young lady at the right time, and knowing Dad would be there to provide counsel and encouragement gave me tremendous freedom to single-heartedly serve God. Whenever I would meet a young lady, I wasn’t burdened with questions like, "Is she the one?” Young people fall in love, go steady for a while, and then break apart. Dating brings so much heartbreak, confusion and hard feelings. How can it be God's design?
I believe God's design is for young people to bring their whole hearts to the marriage altar. In today's dating system young people come to the marriage alter with only pieces of their hearts. They have given much of their hearts to other "potential partners." I have never been physically or emotionally attached to any other young lady. It's an awesome experience to fall in love with the one and only person you will marry.
As an ambitious young man I enjoy accomplishing much in a day. In spring of 1999 my weeks were filled with constructing portable buildings for others, installing kitchen cabinets, building egg factories around the country , growing a garden, and almost every Sunday morning I spent in prison. I was in prison to share with the others the gospel of how Jesus came to set the prisoners free! My life has been filled with new learning experiences, variety, and many blessings!
One evening in May, my parents privately asked me out for ice cream. Immediately I sensed something was up. I tried to recall my actions over the past week. Had I done something wrong? I had no knowledge of what was going to occur.
Shortly after arriving at the restaurant, my parents began explaining their activities of the past few months. They had privately met with another couple in our church to ask them to consider the possibility that I might be "Mr. Right" for their daughter. My parents gave them time to get over the shock of their suggestion and allow them to seek God's will. Two months later, the four parents met again and agreed to proceed to the next step, which was to inform me of what they believed might be God's will and leading.
There I sat, eating my ice cream in total shock! My head was spinning and my mind was crammed with all kinds of thoughts... such as, "I am so busy"; "I never considered her"; "I barely know her"; "This is exciting!" I went home to a sleepless night and received little sleep for the next couple of nights. I earnestly sought God's will in this decision.
I began gathering information about this young lady. We were attending the same church since our move from PA to MO three years earlier. However, we weren’t well acquainted. In order to personally observe her, our families planned a birthday party and canoe trip together. I was a nervous wreck! Now I was facing a life changing decision.
I made a list of the qualities I desired in a wife, including: someone who loved the Lord, had a burden for the lost, honored her parents, loved being a homemaker, had a joyful spirit, and enjoyed the lighter side of life. Rachel Nail fit my list perfectly! As our families spent more time together, I was drawn to her Godly character and good looks. J
On June 7th, I faced the big next step. By appointment, I met Mr. Nail at his place of work during lunch hour, and I presented the question to him: Would he consider giving me Rachel's hand in marriage? He kindly said that he didn't know me well enough to make a decision and would like to spend more time together.
We agreed to correspond, and after a few letters we went on a day trip together in July. Over a picnic lunch Mr. Nail told me he and his wife would make a decision at the end of August.
The next 6 weeks were challenging not knowing what his answer would be. I was losing too much sleep worrying about the decision, so I committed my future to the Lord.
The end of August finally arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Nail had to make a business trip the last week of August to the first week of September. They arrived home on Labor Day. I called Mr. Nail the next day at work and asked him if we could get together. He asked if my parents would meet for ice cream on Friday. That evening after a lengthy "polite conversation", Mr. Nail turned to me and said, "Tom, my wife and I would be honored to have you ask Rachel." I was so excited! It was now time for the Nails to tell Rachel what had been transpiring:
Rachel's Testimony:
On June 7th, the same day Tom was approaching my Dad, the Lord brought to my attention a quote by Elisabeth Elliot: "Don't strain your eyes to see the future - for you will not be able to see clearly what God wants you to see NOW."
Over and over again He was reminding me to trust Him completely and rest content where He had placed me, serving my family. I couldn't see the future, but He held tomorrow in His hands!
Amazingly to me, shortly after my 17th birthday, the Lord started impressing upon my heart that I was to be Tom's wife. This came as a shock because I had hardly noticed Tom, much less entertained the idea that he would be the one I would marry! I tried to reject any thoughts of him, because I wanted to keep my heart pure and free from emotional attachments. Previously, I had made a commitment with my dad to trust him with my heart and allow any prospective young man to work through my dad's leadership.
However, gently and persistently the Lord would bring to mind a character quality Tom displayed, or something he had said in church, or had done. I began to notice how kindly he interacted with his siblings, and the respect and honor he gave his parents.
I was impressed with his love for the Lord and his desire to reach out with the gospel to those who are in bondage to sin. I realized how compatible we were in so many areas, how his relaxed nature balanced out my personality. I was amazed and a little scared. This was not an emotion-based infatuation! What was my Lord saying to me? I tried to take captive every thought and believed that the Lord wanted me to remain content with Him, and die to the vision of marriage. I wanted my heart to be completely committed to Christ.
On August 27th, my parents and two of my siblings left for a ten-day trip to Colorado, leaving me with five of my younger brothers and sisters. It was an emotionally and physically exhausting week but I learned so much and knew that Jesus was calling me to be willing to do this for the rest of my life if that was what He wanted. I came face to face with my own unworthiness and weaknesses, but His Word reminded me that my weaknesses were perfected in His power! A verse He gave me for that week was from Psalm 51:10-12: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. "
That was a turning point for me. I said, "Here Lord, you take it all". There was such freedom! On Sunday I shared with the ladies my prayer request was to be willing to do whatever the Lord placed in my hands, which at that time was serving in my home, and trust Him with the rest of my life. I knew that He could meet every need of my heart!
That evening my parents arrived home and the following week we were busy catching up and working around the house. I found out that on Friday night, September 10th, dad was taking mom out for desert; for some reason I knew that they would be meeting with others, but I had no idea who or why. They just smiled at my questions and left me wondering. We were all asleep when they arrived home at almost midnight.
Early the next morning Mom woke me. "Rachel, get dressed. Dad and I want you to go somewhere with us." I realized that something unusual was happening. As we headed out the door, my sister Mara called out after me, "This is the first day of the rest of your life!"
Driving down the highway, Dad and Mom told me that they were taking me to breakfast. At that point I began to suspect what was around the corner but I wouldn't let my thoughts wander too far. I kept telling myself it would turn out to be nothing major. I waited for them to say something at the restaurant, but again, they only smiled and held me off.
Finally, we drove to a park and as we walked around the lake dad began unfolding the events of the past six months. I couldn't believe it! I was so overwhelmed. As he talked, I knew in my heart that it was Tom he was telling me about even though he hadn't mentioned any names.
Then it was my turn to tell Dad and Mom what the Lord had been telling me! It was an awesome experience. After and hour and a half of talking I asked for some time alone. I spent three hours singing, praying, crying and reading the Bible. One of the first passages I turned to was Isaiah 44 and verse 23 stood out: "Sing for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath."
The Lord kept confirming in my heart what I already knew; that my answer would be yes! My parents encouraged me to have an answer within seven days, and I told them that I would be ready by Sunday night. I just wanted time to talk with the Lord and sort out my thoughts. That night I slept very little and couldn't eat. There was so much going through my mind!
We went to church and stayed for worship time. As we sang, peace flooded my soul and I felt the Lord had given me back everything I had given to Him. He was starting new growth out of the seed I allowed to die! I was almost bursting with excitement and told my parents that the answer was yes even before we were out of the driveway.
That evening our families met at the Eldredge home. During a moment I’ll always treasure, Tom asked me if I would marry him. I told him that I was honored to become his wife! We spent time in fellowship with our families talking and praising the Lord for His goodness to us. We both had such a peace in our hearts knowing the Lord had designed us for each other and orchestrated our coming together.
Our wedding was held on December 11, 1999. We’re still falling in love!
"...Being confident of this, that He who has began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6
Portions of this article were originally printed in The King's Daughter Magazine, Vol. 8 Num. 2, as an article entitled "Satisfied Only in Jesus" .
Contact Tom & Rachel by writing
The Eldredge Family, October 2004
Tom, Rachel, Hosanna (3 1/2), and Caleb (2)
