How do we wait for God? The bible tells us in countless verses to wait, be still and have patience. But how do you do that? Does waiting mean that we can't DO anything? And what are we waiting for? Will there be a sign? A thought? A burning bush?? At least in the Old Testament the Isrealites had circumstances where they actually SAW God and HEARD his voice. I don't know about you, but I haven't had any actual visions of God. He does not reveal himself to me physically. And when we’re trying to wait on Him, it’s terribly frustrating when we don’t see or hear Him.
Being a single woman in my thirties, I’m still waiting on the Lord for a husband. I don’t always find myself waiting so patiently either. There are times when I see a loving couple or witness a beautiful wedding and I become overwhelmed with the desire to have what they have. Yes, sometimes I covet my neighbors’ husband. Oh, not the actual person, just the coupledom that they share. These are the times I have to remind myself that God has a bigger plan and I must wait on Him and His timing.
But does “waiting” mean that I cannot be “doing” something? Many times we get so consumed with waiting that we simply miss doing anything. I don't believe it's God's plan for me to sit in my home and wait for Him to send a man to my front door. I think God likes when I seek His guidance and then get up and move! This doesn't mean going to bars to pick up guys. It means within the context of His plan I can be serving Him, serving others, and in doing that, maybe it will lead to connecting with someone romantically. It will only happen with God's guidance, of course. But God can't guide me anywhere if I'm sitting on my rear end.
The song "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller expresses this idea perfectly. While we're waiting for the desires of our heart, we should be hopeful, moving ahead, bold and confident, serving and worshipping. Running the race, even while waiting.
Sometimes Christian singles spend too much time wringing our hands and waiting that we become consumed with our own destructive thoughts. If we comit to serving the Lord and serving others, I gaurantee the holy spirit will take away the anxiety and fill you with God's peace. You will begin to HEAR His voice and SEE Him around you. You will find companionship with God and with others. And that makes the pain of singleness disolve away as you realize you are not alone.
So, as I continue to wait on the Lord, I seek His guidance in prayer and in His word. But I also "do" things. I volunteer at church, I connect with people on dating websites, and I live a full life. I'm not doing anything contrary to God's word. I'm not trying to push relationships with people. I am waiting on the Lord. I'm simply waiting actively.
Psalm 37:4 (NLT)- Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Lyrics to While I'm Waiting by John Waller :
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
I'm waiting I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Let's Get Started
Welcome to my first blog! If you're a single Christian woman over the age of 30, this blog is for you. I want to talk about living a life that honors God while being open to meeting your soul mate at the same time. How do we balance the desire to know God with the desire to find a husband?
If you're reading this, I already know three things about you. #1 You are single. #2 You are a Christian. #3 You're still waiting for a husband. And if you're anything like me, you've already kissed your fair share of frogs and are getting a little tired of not finding the right one. Why are you still singe? Does God want you to be alone forever? Why doesn't it ever work out for you?
You are not alone! There are more and more women who are entering their 30's as singletons. I'm continually amazed at the number of single Christian women I meet. At first, I was sure I was the last person alive who hadn't gotten married and started a family in my twenties. The horror! But the closer I got to God the more He showed me other amazing women in the same situation. Attractive women who had good educations, great jobs, and a comfortable life, yet couldn't find Mr. Right.
But why has this happened? Why are women living their forth decade alone? I think there are endless reasons. The loss of Christian values in our society, a focus on education and career, the need for independence and spending too much time with the wrong guys are just a few. These aren't all bad things, in fact, some of them are very necessary. But they still leave a void in our hearts. And, for that reason, single thirty-somethings are some of the most frustrated people I know. No matter how much personal success, money, or life experience you have; there is still a desire for a mate that is left unfulfilled.
A woman is created to nurture, to be a helpmate, to bear children. As God creates each of us, He instills this nature into all women. And please do not doubt that He knows what He is doing!
Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life
was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
God knows. He knows the frustration you feel, the loneliness, the unfulfilled desires of your heart. And He created you to find peace and harmony and satisfaction. But, He did not create you to find these things in a man. No, he created you to find these things in Him. Go ahead and ask your married friends. They know that the desires of your heart - your true nature will never be met in the arms of a man. These things will only be met in the everlasting arms of your heavenly father. Men, just like us, are only human and they will disappoint, they will let you down, they will do stupid things. But the Lord will never disappoint you, He will never let you down. I guarantee if you pursue the Lord with the passion you've been using to find a man, He will fulfill your every need. He will show you the love, security and companionship you've been longing for. And He's the only one who can.
If you're reading this, I already know three things about you. #1 You are single. #2 You are a Christian. #3 You're still waiting for a husband. And if you're anything like me, you've already kissed your fair share of frogs and are getting a little tired of not finding the right one. Why are you still singe? Does God want you to be alone forever? Why doesn't it ever work out for you?
You are not alone! There are more and more women who are entering their 30's as singletons. I'm continually amazed at the number of single Christian women I meet. At first, I was sure I was the last person alive who hadn't gotten married and started a family in my twenties. The horror! But the closer I got to God the more He showed me other amazing women in the same situation. Attractive women who had good educations, great jobs, and a comfortable life, yet couldn't find Mr. Right.
But why has this happened? Why are women living their forth decade alone? I think there are endless reasons. The loss of Christian values in our society, a focus on education and career, the need for independence and spending too much time with the wrong guys are just a few. These aren't all bad things, in fact, some of them are very necessary. But they still leave a void in our hearts. And, for that reason, single thirty-somethings are some of the most frustrated people I know. No matter how much personal success, money, or life experience you have; there is still a desire for a mate that is left unfulfilled.
A woman is created to nurture, to be a helpmate, to bear children. As God creates each of us, He instills this nature into all women. And please do not doubt that He knows what He is doing!
Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life
was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
God knows. He knows the frustration you feel, the loneliness, the unfulfilled desires of your heart. And He created you to find peace and harmony and satisfaction. But, He did not create you to find these things in a man. No, he created you to find these things in Him. Go ahead and ask your married friends. They know that the desires of your heart - your true nature will never be met in the arms of a man. These things will only be met in the everlasting arms of your heavenly father. Men, just like us, are only human and they will disappoint, they will let you down, they will do stupid things. But the Lord will never disappoint you, He will never let you down. I guarantee if you pursue the Lord with the passion you've been using to find a man, He will fulfill your every need. He will show you the love, security and companionship you've been longing for. And He's the only one who can.
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