The Gift of Singleness // Colombia Update
1 Corinthians 7,
“6. Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
“33. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 34. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34. And his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.”
In this passage, Paul says that it is good to remain as he is: single. This way he has only one focus, which is to draw near to God and be fully devoted to Him, rather than partially divided between the things of this world and God.
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I grew up in a culture where getting married is basically one of the top priorities in life. The sooner, the better. The longer you wait, then most likely there is a problem with you or you need to change something about yourself. Not only that, but often-times, the women in my culture also get married fairly young. By the time I started freshman year in college, a majority of the friends I was raised with were already in some sort of relationship: boyfriend, fiancé, married.
As for me, I was single.
And still am.
And contrary to popular belief, I couldn’t have asked for a better blessing in my life from my Heavenly Father.
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As I look back, I am very grateful for the time that I have had to accomplish so many things in my life and to have a longer season to be fully devoted to my Creator. Things that I know I would never have been able to experience having been married. I know in my heart that God holds me in His hands and that He has something special planned for my life. As He does for you, too. For me, it’s a different type of gift. A gift called singleness. A gift where I could spend all of my time being fully devoted to the One who has given me life and given my life purpose.
At least for this particular season in my life coming on the World Race.
If I’m honest, the one thing that I desire as mentioned before in previous blogs, is to be close to the Father – and if that means waiting so that I can grow even closer to the Lord, then so be it. And so be it, joyfully.
But don’t get me wrong – being single is tough. It has been tough. Especially in the culture where being a female, single at 24 is a rarity. It’s not easy. Even more so when those around you are constantly asking you…. so, when is it your turn? Have you found the one you’re going to spend the rest of your life with? Some would even say…. “You’re too picky, Sarah… you might need to lower your standards.”
It is times like these that I pray to God and thank Him that He made me the way He did: with the Holy Spirit as my leader and guide and the One I choose to listen to and obey. As if marriage is ultimately what God called us to. Despite these constant and never-ending questions and comments, I choose to remain strong, to remain pure, to remain confident in who He called me to be: His Daughter.
Everything else will work itself out. All I need to do is pick up the cross daily and follow Him. He will lead me in every season and to every season.
Marriage is a gift. Singleness is a gift. As Paul states, “each one has its own gift, one of one kind and one of another.”
Go and embrace the gift God has given you. Be present in the gift and the season you are given.
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I am currently at the Miami airport awaiting the next flight with my squad, which isn’t for another 10 hours or so. We are headed to Colombia and will arrive tomorrow, January 8, 2019. This month is all squad month (so the entire team will be together for ministry). We will be serving at a homeless shelter as well as ministering to drug addicts. Pray that God works through us as we serve and love on all those we encounter, and that His name is glorified. May His children find their way to Him.
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This year, I am going to be fully devoted to God and to Him alone.
I am going to embrace the gift of singleness that God has called me to in this season of my life.
And for all you other girls or boys out there who are getting to that point or already there, and asking yourselves why you haven’t found your spouse yet, and as a result, asking if there is something wrong with you… there isn’t anything wrong with you. Rather, maybe God wants you to draw near to Him instead of trying to draw near to someone else who won’t ever be able to give you complete fulfillment. Think about that.
So, stop. Stop drowning in your own sadness. Stop questioning who you are.
Go out there. Experience God. Love Him, love others, and make disciples.
Isaiah 6:9, “…Here Am I, Father. Send Me…..”
And so here I go. Fully devoted to You, most gracious God.
Soli Deo Gloria
SDZ
