Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Be Encouraged Single Ones!!!

So... today I had a rough day. On top of the stress of my parents home in that storm, lately I've been struggling with being lonely and, well..... single. You see, all of my local friends are married.. ALL OF THEM. This isn't a bad thing. They all have amazing spouses and you can see God's hand in and on each of the marriages but sometimes it gets to me that I'm the only one not wed yet.

Thats it!! ... Pity party is over because God revealed this amazing truth tonight after finishing my bible study with Beth. My bible happened to be opened to Hebrews 4 because she asked us to look up a verse to show us a point and so after room check (because I live in a dorm now!)  I just picked it up to read the highlighted part because that color is what I used while I was in Ghana, so it must have been important or encouraging.  So I read Hebrews 4:14-16 which reads:

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast ourconfession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.(NASB via Bible Gateway)

Then it hit me. Jesus was 30 and single when he started his ministry.

Let me say that again..... Jesus was a single.

I have always known this fact in bible trivia that he never had a wife but I just realized tonight that he was single. He knows what its like to live in a world where all of his peers have started their families and he was "left behind". I can just see the old ladies sitting in the corner at that wedding at Cana in Galilee (John 2) figuring out which of the young ladies would be a perfect match for this talented young man.

What a relief! This is a struggle/temptation that He actually knows exactly what we are feeling and in it he did not sin. He did not waste his time but He was growing in preparation for the task He had ahead of Him. And thats what we should do, no matter what our relationship status. There is always a next step that we can be preparing for in our time waiting for God to say "go left up here at the stop sign".

Be encouraged dear friend. I am... I have been reenergized and even motivated to do some of my homework (I know, shocking right?!) He really does know those longings in your heart and he really can sympathize with your predicament. Draw near him and receive his mercy and grace in your time of need knowing that He's been there too.

Until next time!
Chels