Strength for the Day

If I know about any subject in life particularly well, I know about singleness.

I’ve lived it.

I’m currently living it.

I could possibly, maybe, scared out of my mind write a book on it.

It’s something I simply know how to do.

They say you learn most by doing something, and well, I’m doing it for goodness sake.

To be completely vulnerable here, since I know how to manage singleness so well and how to maneuver my way through it, the thought of a relationship with a male completely freaks me out.

Funny and ironic, I’d say. That the one thing I desire most is quite possibly also the one thing I fear the most.

I’m thinking a class on dating and maneuvering through relationships would come in particularly handy, but the movie Hitch will have to suffice. It’s totally legit.

I’m completely preparing myself for one awkward situation after another when I start dating, but that’s neither here nor there.

I think the number one question I get quite often is, “How do you do it?”

I often wonder why that’s the question of choice, because, do what? I have no other option but to live life as a current single girl in this season, so what else would I do? Depend on my imaginary husband? And to be completely honest, as tough as singleness can be, it's not the worst of situations in life that will arise.

The truth is yes, there are some hard days. Some lonely days. Some frustrating days. Some confusing days. There were the days I gleefully married off all my BFF’s. But they’re just that. Days. Not weeks, months, or years. But days.

Isn’t it the same if you were a wife or mother? What if someone asked you how you did it? The answer is, day by day you do it. It’s the season of life the Lord has you in and you have no other option but to embrace it. And love it.

The last thing I want people to think is that my all consuming thoughts are of marriage and this never-ending season of singleness. Let’s face it, the girls that are most miserable in their single years, are often the girls most miserable when they’re married. If I can help it, I’d rather not be that girl.

Singleness is certainly my most current trial, and it is definitely trying. But this too shall pass.

So how do I do it? I embrace it. I learn from it. I grow in it. I enjoy it. I serve in it. I wait in it. And I hope in it.

I change in it. Oh, how sad it would be to move on from this season into the next one as the same girl, leaving my sanctification to the birds.

What I find completely humorous is that when I think I have this whole singleness and waiting thing figured out, He goes and messes with me. For that, I’m thankful. Like I’ve said, I don’t want to be complacent in this season acting as though it has no purpose. It has a huge purpose, oh yes ma’am it does.

His Glory and my sanctification are both at stake.

The other day when I was driving up I-45 it was no surprise to me that he went and messed with my mind. Some might call it a revelation of sorts.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been praying that the Lord would give me patience in this season of waiting. Waiting is no small feat. However, I had a good laugh over that prayer the other day because hello, patience waits! I am waiting! I am being patient! The longer I pray for patience, the longer He may make me wait.

The truth is, I’m a naturally pretty patient person. To me, patience, although a fruit of the Spirit, comes more naturally to me more than other.

You know what I need more than patience?

Strength.

I wish y’all knew how extremely thankful I am that I don’t know the outcome of my life, or better yet, the timetable.

Every now and then I get anxious at the thought that I’ll be 25 this June and will still be flying solo. I get anxious because it feels like the time is just ticking away. When most of my friends seem to be moving on, and not just in dating and marriage, but having kids, I can get myself pretty worked up.

Wasn’t life supposed to be like that? You all get married at the same time? Raise your kids together? Go on vacations together?

You see why I can get anxious? In a sense, I feel like I’m being left behind.

Hence the needing of His strength.

If I knew that the Lord has it planned that I won’t get married until I’m 28, or 34, or 40 or gasp! Never (although I don’t think that is His plan) I’m not sure I could be so patient. I’d be an anxious ball of mess. And not a pretty one.

But the fact is, I don’t know the timetable. Maybe I’ll meet my man tomorrow; maybe I’ll meet him in 10 years.

Whatever the case, I need strength for the day. Maybe for a particular day it will be strength for that second, minute or hour and I know He is faithful and He will provide it.

With His strength I can get through a day. And you know what? That excites me? Even if I get married 10 years from today, I know that His strength will be enough for each and every one of those days.

I may be the last on this bandwagon, but I pray that is encouragement to somebody. That those that are in a season of waiting, whatever it is you’re waiting for, know that God will give you strength for the day.

So how do I do it? With His strength. Not my own.

Feel blessed that He would count you worthy enough to endure this trial for His Glory. I know I do.

“But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.” Isaiah 40:31