Single- It's How I Roll

"God, can I please have a cool love story?"

Courtesy of Flickr: here

Laugh if you want, but my preteen/teenage heart prayed this prayer a couple of times. And I meant it. Normal just wasn't going to cut it for this girl. I dreamed of magical. Too much Disney, you ask? Probably. I don't know where exactly, but somewhere I learned that dreams come true, not because I believed in magic. No, I believed in my God who cared for my heart. It was a simple prayer from my teenage, hormonal heart.  

Fast forward ten years. I'm twenty-four, single, and happy as a Blue Bird (Forgive the southern saying. I have no idea where it came from). Wait, is it Blue Bird or Blue Jay? Man, I can't even get the saying right. Moving on. I've come a long way in my relationship with God. I can say with confidence that I have learned (not perfected) a thing or two from Him about love. This love says, "You're first". There are no "me, me, Me" moments. It's a love that bends low because He says, "love your neighbor as yourself" (For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself". Gal 5:14)- because, greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Maybe I'm just a single ole goof, but is it crazy to believe that a spouse is first a "neighbor, and therefore, we should love them as Bible dictates? I've learned that loneliness is in the eye of the beholder because the Word says, "I will never leave nor forsake you"(It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deut 31:8), but that sometimes it still hurts. I've learned that my God has a heart that sings over me (The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zeph 3:17). I've learned that He loves to hear my heart, and that he heard that prayer of my young heart (Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8). I've learned to run to Him when things are hard, instead of running to someone else (The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18).

What I'm getting at is, today as single woman, I've had quite an amazing love story so far. It's a story about redemption, restoration, and healing between God and His bride. My prayer has been answered. Okay, not in the way I meant then, or dream now, but in the right way- His way. I'm still pullin' for that "cool" love story (in the way I asked). But I can honestly say, I wouldn't trade my single life thus far for anything. It hasn't been a walk in the park, but it has been a walk with God through valleys and over mountains. I've cried, yelled, and pouted along the way. That's no fun to admit, but I know I'm not the only one whose been there. If you're single and you're in a low season, please don't let this post turn you off to me. I promise you I've been there! You can't spend twenty-four years single and escape the lows. Right now, in this season, I can see with clarity the gift of singleness. And for that I thank you, Lord.

I wrote this post today after reading the comments on this (in)courage post. You should check it out, but make sure you read the comments. It's great for any married folks that want to know how to reach out to their single friends. :)

Praying for you, my single friends, today!

In His Name,

Jennifer