Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
I can’t help thinking about how similar I’ve felt to Gabby Barrett. I, too, have felt “love slipping through my hands”—honestly, many times, not just on one particular occasion. But there have been a few especially painful (and recent) times this has happened to me.
When my friend Melanie* got engaged to Josh*, I was happy for them because they were so perfect for each other. Even while they were dating, they were a power couple. I knew that their relationship would become even stronger once they got married. However, even though I absolutely love Melanie and was really excited about her wedding, her engagement wasn’t easy for me. Sometimes, I simply felt discouraged and hopeless, rather than celebratory. Single Girl, if you have a friend who’s engaged, please don’t despair. Instead, make the conscious choice to love her well throughout this special season of her life. Here are three ways to do that.
Dear Single Girl, I know that being single can make you feel like you’re living on an island sometimes—like there’s no one who really “gets” you except for your cat and your Spotify playlist. You have to push yourself to do any social activities because all you really want to do is stay at home. But constantly staying at home is a really lonely existence—especially for a single girl. That’s why it’s so important to find a church that fits you and to get involved in it.
I wish I could tell you that this Valentine’s Day is special because I finally met The One, but this Valentine’s Day is no different than last Valentine’s Day. Instead of being curled up on the couch with a handsome Christian man wearing a navy pullover sweater and an almost mischievous side smile, I’m writing yet another blog post about singleness. “An Honest Confession on Valentine’s Day” seemed like the only appropriate title for a post about the major gap between where I am and where I want to be this Valentine’s Day.
In this video interview, author Shelby Abbott opens up about what his singleness journey looked like, how he met his wife and got married as a 29-year-old, and how his past (and current) struggles have shaped his ministry mindset. He candidly shares how single girls can approach singleness in a God-honoring way. I know you'll find his story very encouraging!
On the one hand, I’m afraid that I’ll have sex once and never want to have it again: What if having sex hurts? What if it’s uncomfortable? What if I hate it? On the other hand, I’m afraid that I’ll have sex once and won’t want to stop: What if having sex becomes my favorite new hobby? What if it’s super intense? What if I like it more than my husband does?
I wish there were lots of great resources available for the Christian single girl, but this Christian single girl has definitely struggled to find them. My favorite kind of resource is genuine and interesting, but sadly, these kinds of resources are few and far between—especially for the single Christian girl. But I have stumbled upon a few fantastic resources (a blog post, a book, and a podcast episode) that will hopefully be exactly what you need today:
After I graduated from college, I moved back home to live with my parents and two sisters. This has been a great arrangement because I love my family, my home, and my hometown. I work here, I attend church here, and most of my friends live here. It’s a genuinely beautiful place with plenty to do but not too much to do. But there was one really hard thing about the transition from living at college to moving back home that all single college graduates have to deal with—feelings of loneliness. Knowing that I was welcome back home with my family. Yet feeling like I should be getting married and buying a home of my own. Being thankful for the space that my parents had for me. But learning to accept that I didn’t have a home of my own to “homemake.”
Single Girl, I don’t judge you for any excuse that you’ve made in a desperate attempt to stay inside your comfort zone. But I want you to know that it’s really challenging to meet guys (and do other important things--life's not all about guys) if you stay inside your comfort zone. Please don’t miss the opportunities in front of you simply because they might make you feel a bit un-comfy.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 