Saturday, March 23, 2013

A Means to An End

Quite often I find myself daydreaming of the day that I will walk down the aisle in a stunning white dress toward the man that I will spend the rest of my life with. Ah, yes, my wedding day. I think of it often, yet the face I will see looking down the aisle is still quite the mystery.

Some days I'm able to enjoy the mystery and savor the excitement of one day finding out who Mr. Right is but most days I tell God that I'm tired of waiting and think that I'm quite ready to bring an end to this dreary season of singleness.

Despite my constant petitions, encouraging nudges and attempts to make it so, the Lord has so far denied my request. This is a hard pill to swallow at times. I've officially entered the season where all my friends are getting married so I feel like it should be happening for me too, but it's not.

So why am I dissatisfied in the lot the Lord has given me? Singleness, though uncomfortable at times, really isn't that bad. You can do whatever you want to do, go wherever you to want to go, and maintain your own time and resources at your own discretion (bearing in mind the will of the Lord). But even so, in singleness we have A LOT of freedom. Why give that up?

I think I often fall into the trap of thinking that my life doesn't really begin until I have a man to share it with. So until he comes I'm just waiting around trying to look busy. But this ought not be the case. Marriage is not the end or goal of my life. Neither is singleness. God gives both and takes away both but the season is not an end in and of itself. Rather, each season is a means to God's end for our lives which is our sanctification (1 Thess. 4:3).

God gives us a season of singleness and a season of marriage to sanctify us. We can't worry that not being married means that we're not fulfilling our purpose. Our purpose is not to be married. Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him and we can do that whether or not we have a ring around our finger.

The Lord is sovereign over where you are right now even if you don't want to be there. Live out your singleness with earnestness. Use your talents to build up the kingdom of God, travel to another country, go on a mission trip. The possibilities are endless and being single means the barriers are low.

Each season in your life contributes to your sanctification. Take advantage of each one and don’t waste it. Trust God every day and hope in Him.  

The LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  -Psalm 84:11