It’s 2023 and most people set New Year goals. The most popular ones I see are fitness goals, so the gym is full of new members, and if you’re a regular, you probably can’t use your favorite machine right now. Unfortunately, those same people will be gone by March if not by Valentine’s Day. Why? If there’s no change on the inside, the outside has no hope.
How does this tie into singleness? Whatever your goals are, I pray you start on the inside first. I’ve seen a lot of posts recently in singles groups and there’s a lot of venting, disappointment, anger, and even defeat. That’s where we need to start. With our mindset.
You may think, “I’m almost fifty and I’ve never been married.” Or you’re in your early to mid-thirties thinking, why hasn’t this happened as it did for my friends in their twenties?” I wish I could explain the timing of God, but I don’t always understand it either. I can only speak for myself, but I encourage you to apply Romans 12:2.
We hear it all the time in church to renew our minds, but not everyone knows how. So, I’m giving a practical example. Instead of saying, “I’m facing another year alone,” replace it with, “God knows where I am. He has good plans for me. I don’t have to understand. In His perfect timing, He’ll give me what I need. Regardless, I trust Him.”
I know it’s tough to say when you see another engagement post on social media. Or when you hear another baby announcement from the married couple at your church, but God is not overlooking you. Singleness is not a punishment. The Bible calls it a gift, yes, but I would even say it’s preparation. It’s a time to discover who you truly are. A time to heal from past wounds and trauma.
As I’ve said in previous posts, God won’t give you just “anybody.” It may be convenient to take something off the discount rack, but we don’t serve a God like that. You’re not a discounted item, and neither is the person He has for you. Jesus bought us all with a price. We’re precious in His eyes.
So let’s not come into a New Year with old mindsets. Challenge your lonely thoughts. Don’t let feelings of anger increase and you don’t check-in with yourself. Be honest with God, yes, but what will you do after that? Trust Him or walk away?
I know. None of this is easy. Life gets real, but we have the secret/not so secret. The Word of God. Everything we need is in Him. Dealing with loneliness, read Psalms. Need wisdom, read Proverbs. Want to know why you’re going through tough times and you did nothing wrong, study Job. God’s Word has everything. We just need to dig into it, and not just study, but walk it out.
It’s a New Year. Another chance. So let’s forget what didn’t happen in 2022, and live in expectancy of what God is going to do!
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
