Living your Best Life: Single, not Miserable

'Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.' - Ephesians 3: 20-21

The most powerful thing you can do is realize what season you're in and embrace it. My story is a pretty simple one: a broken child looking for a sense of completion and security in men. Ya'll, it was a struggle. I wanted, so bad, to be in a relationship and in love. I truly thought that if I made it to that season of marriage and love in my life then security and completion would come, and I'd be happy. But little did I know, my joy doesn't come...cannot come from those things. Only happiness. And that, my friends, is only temporary.

For a big portion of my single season I was miserable. I longed to be in a relationship, and I focused on that idea for such a long time. I thought that I would be truly happy once I was in a relationship and then married. I figured, I could do all the things I longed for like traveling the world and diving into the hobbies that I loved. But the reality is that a relationship cannot open those doors for me. It is only true contentment in Christ that does. I've talked about this in a previous post but it's so important. Too many of us are allowing our single season to waste away because we are spending too much of it focusing on getting married. Your single season is not a time for you to be miserable. It is not a punishment. It's a blessing.

I used to carry this fear that I wouldn't truly receive all that I desired in my single season. I feared that I would never get married because I hadn't yet and every person that I tried to commit to never worked out. I feared that I couldn't do a lot of the things I desired like traveling the world or trying new things on my own. I felt that I needed to be with a man to do those things because he would inspire me and push me to do what I longed to do. This is such a lie and a huge trick of the enemy. I LOVE the scripture above because it reminds me how awesome Christ is! I don't need to be fearful because He will exceed my expectations and do it in abundance, according to the power that worketh within us! I can do so much more than I could ever imagine. All I need is Him. He will supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19).

It took me, I think, a really long time to truly understand what your single season is all about. It is not a time to dwell on what you don't have or long to be in a season that God has not called you to yet. It is a time to truly fall in love with Christ. Ya'll, I am learning in this season how to be intimate with God. What do I mean by intimate? Spending time getting close to Christ, becoming vulnerable in front of Him, and giving Him my heart. Learning to truly worship Christ, not just in church, but on my own time. Intimacy also means having quality time with God, reading His word and allowing Him to reveal all that He wants me to know in that time. Your single season is a time to really get to know Jesus. This season is the time to get in the habit of spending one on one time with the Lord so you can strengthen your relationship with Him or begin one with Him. This season is the time for you to read your bible more, speak to God more, worship/ praise God more. You have time that you can pour back into Christ. My hope for you (and myself) is that learning to do this now will be helpful once you're married because you'll know how to spend quality time with the Lord. When your spirit begins to long for that time, you'll be able to pull away and spend time with Christ so that you can get recharged and filled with wisdom.

I'm not denouncing marriage in any way because I truly desire to be married and I believe it is a very powerful season in your life. All I'm saying is don't take your single season for granted. Use it to truly figure out who you are in Christ and learn how to spend time with Him. In this season, do all that you desire to do. Travel the world, be spontaneous, do what you love and don't hold back for a man or anyone to do it. You can do all things in Christ and He will make a way for you to do those things. There is so much freedom and power in knowing what season you're in and enjoying that time. The Lord has gone before you and He has so much in store for you. Enjoy the season you're in now. Draw nigh to Christ and have fun!

I'm truly learning to enjoy this season and step out on faith to do all the things that Christ has been stirring up in me to do (this blog being one of them *wink*). My prayer is that you all will embrace the season you're in. Whether single or married, embrace it. Enjoy it and truly cling to Jesus. He's got so much in store for you now!