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Wrinkle-free Wednesdays

Guest Post by Lisa @www.the-christian-single-woman.com

One of the things that is most appealing to me about this blog is that it is devoted to helping you deepen your relationship with God in new and practical ways.  I can recall reading Marriage Monday posts in the past and wondering how many singles struggled to find inspiration and encouragement because they didn’t feel highly favored by God simply because they are still single.

So inspired by the very purpose of this blog, I wanted to highlight that it is possible to be single and highly favored.  Though not a popular or common thought, the fact that you’re single could be an indication of just how highly God thinks of you.  Let me explain…

The story of Job is one my favorites in the Bible because it reminds me that nothing comes to me that is not first filtered through my Heavenly Father.  You see it’s common to struggle with God’s plan when it doesn’t line up with our plan.  Believe me, I know every day is not an easy day.  But we must remember that not only are God’s ways unlike our ways, they are higher and much better than our ways.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”- Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

That’s why the story of Job is so encouraging because it reminds me that although I would have never chosen the path that God has allowed me to travel, He allowed it because He knew I could be trusted with the trials of singleness. You see everything is God sent or God allowed, so I am encouraged by the fact that God thinks enough of me to know I can handle anything I go through.

Job’s story is an interesting one by any measure.  He had a wonderful life and was an upstanding Christian, the Bible says He was ‘blameless and upright’. Of course by our standards we believe that means Job should have enjoyed a picture perfect life, but the Bible tells us just the opposite occurred (not our ways).  Job endured much heartache and many hardships all with God’s permission.

In Job 1:8 when Satan came about seeking whom he may devour, the Lord thought so highly of Job that asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” So maybe, just maybe rather than despite but because you’re trying to live right and do that which honors God, maybe like Job, God knows He can trust you with the trials of singleness for this season.

The story of Job ends with a great revelation from Job. He plainly states to the Lord, ‘I had heard of you before, but now I know you for myself.  The trials allowed Him to experience God for himself like never before.  Experiential knowledge of God is worth any trial you can endure.  Cultivate a heart that allows God to freely do what He wants to you, so He can do what He wants through you.

This is not to suggest that we can only experience God through trials, but there is something about going through trials that we’d rather not endure that allows His promises to become more precious to us.  Nor is this to suggest that those who are married are not highly favored by God.  God has a purpose and a plan for each of us.  He is sovereign and as such he can bless us any way He sees fit.  He knows exactly what each of us needs to be conformed into His image, which why trust and contentment are so important.  Trusting God wholeheartedly and learning to be content in this season will allow you to find contentment in the next season.

“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Philippians 4:11 NIV

My fellow Christian single rejoice, could it be that God has said, ‘Have you considered my servant (insert your name here)?’ You are blessed and highly favored by God.  In fact your singleness could be the very thing that God uses to mold your Christ-likeness and make you more like Him.  God has looked kindly upon you and chosen you to show others how to love Him despite the fact that you lack something you want so dearly. Don’t spend so much time focused on someone else’s blessing that you lose sight of what God is trying to do in and through you.  You have been chosen by God to experience Him in a new and unique way.

“…Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” – I Timothy 4:12 NLT

Favor may not be fair, but it is always undeserved. Every Christian is highly favored to do the work God has called you to do to glorify Him. So highly favored Christian single, what are you doing to glorify Him during this season?

About the Author

Lisa is the creator of www.the-christian-single-woman.com, a website dedicated to helping Christian single women lead fulfilling and whole lives during their season of singleness.   Though singleness is not a desired state for most, she is a firm believer that it should not be a season of depression.   As a Christian single who has endured many ups and downs in singleness, her heart’s desire is to be a voice of encouragement for Christian single women to remind them they are not alone, they have not been forgotten and most of all that they are loved by Christ.

Image: djcodrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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