Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
Several weeks ago, I listened to a podcast episode during which a pastor discussed a sermon he’d preached about true love. Ultimately, it seemed like he viewed marriage and friendship as equivalent. He treated them as substitutes—as if there are no major differences between them. But I was frustrated with his message because there are major differences between friendship and marriage, and honestly, that frustration fueled this post.
Though you’ve tried to avert your gaze from the red flags, you can’t help but see them whenever you’re with your boyfriend. At first, you thought he would recognize his flaws and work on them. But nothing has changed in the past three months. The red flags you saw on your first date are the same red flags you see now. And you’re worried they’ll be part of his life forever.
But even though I didn't meet my future husband at college, I don't regret not chasing guys while I was there. I know that singleness was the best thing for me then—and is the best thing for me right now—because I believe God's timing for my life is good. And I believe the same thing about His timing for yours, Single Girl.
True confession—it’s difficult to not covet my friends’ marriages. Even though I know coveting is a sin, I succumb to this temptation far too often. God’s Word is clear about not coveting what other people have, but how can we avoid it?
Okay, so there are actually many things I struggle to remember while waiting for marriage, but this is one of the biggest. I’ve written other other posts about marriage and how it points to the marriage celebration of Christ and the Church (as described in Revelation). An earthly marriage between a fallen man and woman is a foretaste of what’s to come—but it’s only a foretaste.
I’m going to be honest with you: I’ve never gone through a breakup, so I don’t know how much it hurts or how long it takes to feel better. But if you’ve broken up with your boyfriend and you regret it, my heart goes out to you. And my hope is that this post will encourage you to keep moving forward instead of turning back.
I recently shared a post with three ways you can pray for the single girls in your life, but as you pray for them, you may wonder how to show them kindness in everyday life. Maybe you’ve been married for decades and have several kids, so singleness isn’t something you think about often. Or maybe you recently got married and want your single friends to know you haven’t forgotten about them. No matter what season of life you’re in, these ideas for loving single girls are applicable.
In recent years, I’ve noticed an unsettling trend among guys who claim to love the Lord. No, I’m not referring to the rise in porn addictions, though that sin is definitely becoming more prevalent. Before I tell you what trend I’m referring to, I want you to know that this post is meant to build you up, not tear you down. As your sister in Christ, I want to help you live out your calling—and this is a major part of it.
There’s nothing wrong with feeling lonely, friends. But even when you feel alone, you have to remember you aren’t alone. If you’re struggling to keep that truth in mind, I completely understand. Here are a few suggestions for dealing with loneliness in healthy, practical ways.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 