It’s been over a year since I wrote two blogs about singleness (part 1 and part 2). I was coming out of a very refreshing and exciting season of life with lots of traveling and soul filling experiences.
As I was going through the joys of dating while in my mid-twenties, I realized how blessed I was to be single in that season of life. It was so easy for me to get in a car and drive to Chicago with my best friend. I didn’t have to ask anyone’s permission to travel or buy tickets to a show. I just did it and it felt amazing!
I’d be lying if I said that I feel the same way right now.
I really thought that after writing two blogs about singleness and “paying my dues” as a single gal in her mid twenties I’d somehow be rewarded with a great, Christian man!
Well, if you haven’t gathered from my writing so far, I’m still very single. 😂 However, since writing those two blogs, my attitude towards being single and dating has taken a very negative turn.
I became pretty bitter and angry at God. I felt like He was continuously disappointing me by not giving me what I wanted. There came a time that I no longer prayed for what I wanted because I was too certain that God would not give it to me and I’d be even more hurt and alone.
If I haven’t made it clear, I am not loving the season of life God has called me into right now. It’s been so hard not to compare my life to others’.
But you know what? God doesn’t ask that I love every season of life. There are always going to be hard seasons that lead to growth and more dependence on Him. I’ve been really trying to thank God through every situation these past couple of months even when I don’t feel like it.
I had heard A BEAUTIFUL STORY once before but recently listened to it with a desperate heart. When I first listened to Mia Fieldes share her story I for some reason thought this would be my story too. Like, down to the tiny details.
But it’s not been my story.
However, as I recently re-listened to Mia tell the story of faith that God has brought through her, I adopted one “practice” that Mia talks about: I have started thanking God for what He’s doing in my life right now and what He will continue to do.
I make myself pray this whenever I see a couple on Instagram and immediately get envious. I make myself say this as I watch those heart wrenching romantic movies where the male lead is absolutely perfect. I make myself say this when I look at all of the women in my life with boyfriends, fiances, and husbands and feel completely alone.
Whether or not God places a man in my life or not, He is working. I don’t want to forget that He is ALWAYS good and His plan for my life doesn’t require a man.
Yeah, that would be super great but it’s not necessary. 😂
I challenge you to thank God immediately even when you feel left out, not enough, sad, lonely, discouraged, fearful, or anything else.
God is WORKING in you! Lean into Him and thank Him for being faithful even through the tough seasons of life. He is crafting a beautiful story and His ways are always higher and better than ours.
– Lauren McDonald
Photo by Clarisse Meyer on Unsplash