You’ve always belonged with me…
How many of us, men and women, would swoon over this line? Hear it in a movie? Some would cry. Hear it in a song, probably the same thing. Read it in a book? Yes, my heart melted over the scenes with a man declaring his love to the woman of his dreams.
Though some aren’t fans of romance stories, who doesn’t love to hear something like this from someone they care about? Every human being longs to be loved. Seen. Heard. We all desire to belong somewhere or to someone.
I know the feeling. As a kid, I felt out of place for years. Even as an adult, I can still feel awkward and out of place. Though surrounded by love and growing up in a Christian household, I battled with low self-esteem. Insecurity. Sure, my family loved me, but I questioned my love for myself. Yes, God was there, but I didn’t really believe He truly loved me, either. Sad for a young introverted girl, growing up feeling like a mistake.
Then something shifted. Though I believed in Jesus, it wasn’t until I became more intentional in my relationship that I encountered God’s love for real in my life. Seeing myself through His eyes shed the lies I’d been carrying for years. Things people said to make fun of me because I was on the quiet side. “Jokes” from so-called friends and extended family only made things worse, but God’s love swept that all away.
You’ve always belonged with me. The sweetest words I heard, and no man said them to me. That would have been romantic, right? Sure, but Holy Spirit had the honor of whispering this to me in prayer. I was pouring my heart out and in the quiet; I heard His words.
I balled. All those years searching for love in others didn’t compare to the love of Jesus. Even as an engaged woman now with an incredible man, even he’s not capable of loving me the way Jesus does on his own. He’s a human being, just like me. That’s too much pressure to ask of someone else.
Maybe you’re thinking, “I know God loves me, but I still want someone special in my life.” Nothing wrong with that, and if it hasn’t happened for you yet, I’m encouraging you to not give up. Valentine’s Day is coming, and I know there are some who can’t wait for it to be over. It wears on you.
The movies, candy and flowers, or the couples you see already paired up. And you? You’re still unmarried. Notice I didn’t say alone. Even the word single means unique, whole, and complete. Why do we allow the world and even sometimes other Christians make us think singleness is a bad thing?
I know the struggle is real. Yet, I encourage you to return to your first love. You’ve always belonged with Him. He’s always loved you. He’s been there all the time, waiting for you to invite Him into the hard places of your life. Jesus is not the backup plan. He’s the main one.
Yes, this is difficult to implement since we all are in different seasons of life. God, however, is still the same. I hope you fix your eyes on Him today and every day. Yes, you’ll have hard moments, but don’t let the hard moments have you. Remind your problems of who your God is and not the other way around. He’s your beloved. Always and forever.
Check out The Christian Singles Hub website for information on Christian matchmaking, Christian speed dating, upcoming Christian retreats, events, trips and so much more at https://thechristiansingleshub.com/
Written by Daria White Osah
You can find Daria Here:
Devotional https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Younger-Me-Devotional-Personal-ebook/dp/B09QRKBRGB/
Her podcast Single Plus https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/singleplus
& on Instagram @mysingleplus
