I wish someone had told me when I was younger that marriage and a husband aren’t the promise: God and His presence is.

This was not how I pictured my life. I’ve always had dreams of meeting someone in college, getting married once we graduated, and starting a family. I’ve dreamed of owning a home together. I’ve dreamed of raising a family. I never dreamed that the boys I met in college would crush my heart and leave me. I never dreamed that I’d be almost 30 and still single. I never dreamed I’d still be living at home, still in this waiting period.
In an honest and frank conversation with God one night, I told Him that I was mad at Him because He promises in Psalm 37:4 that if I take delight in Him, then He will give me the desires of my heart. I was telling God, “Lord, I serve you. I honor you with my life and my singleness. I tithe. I do everything I "should." I take delight in You and Your ways. Where are the desires of my heart? Why haven’t you given me what I wanted?” Oh, I’m sure He had a good laugh at me.

Whoa.
Through this conversation with God, I realized all the gifts He’s given me in my singleness. He has given me extra time to be able to love on His children through the student ministry at church. He has given me other women who are also single and are using their singleness for Him. He’s given me community through church and small groups. He’s given me less responsibility so that I can love others well. If I were married, my ministry would be my husband and my children. Because I’m single, my ministry is other people, specifically high school freshmen girls and other single women. He’s also given me the gift of time to be able to grow, mature, and deepen in my relationship with Him. He’s taught me what a relationship centered around Christ should look like. He’s taught me that I can never get from people what I can only get from God. A person (or husband) will never satisfy the desires in my heart because only God can fulfill those. Maybe God has bigger dreams and plans for me than getting married. It’s not for me to figure out. My job is to pursue Christ, make His name known, love others well, and trust His plans for me.

God is always good and always for us. If we are still single, it is because He has a purpose for it and that is what’s best for us. He will never let us down. Trust in those promises today, sister.
With love,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth truly uses her singleness for God’s glory. What I love about her is 1) how fiercely she loves and serves her high school girls and 2) how she encourages those around her with words of Truth. She is living a life singled out for Him.
Singled Out Sister: What is your area of holy discontent?
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