singles

God wants to give us a mate He has created specifically for us. Realistically, what are the chances of us finding them by hit and miss dating? Why would we settle for anything less than the very best God can give?

Who Wants To Fall In Love?

Is that a ridiculous question or what? We all want love and romance - and we want it now!

Okay, now the scary question - Does God want us to have it now? As believers, every part of our life is to be centered on God and His will, even romance. Society says we deserve it; we need it. We're Losers without it. What does God say?

God loves romance. He created it! And He made it to last forever - that's right, Forever. How much of that do we see these days?

So what's the problem.? Why do people fall in and out of love? Unfortunately, we've taken love and romance out of God's order and tried to fit it into our own. Not a good fit.

When God was creating a helper for Adam, He didn't make a variety of women and sent Adam out to decide which one was a "keeper". He created one woman, designed specifically for one man. Where does today's dating scene fit into that?

It doesn't.

"Ouch!"

"But what are we supposed to do?"

Wait.

"Yeow! That can't be right, can it?"

God wants to give us a mate He has created specifically for us. Realistically, what are the chances of us finding them by hit and miss dating? Why would we settle for anything less than the very best God can give?

It's tough, walking away from what everyone else is doing. But do you really want the heartache everyone else is getting? God spoke in Genesis 2:18, saying He would take the responsibility of a mate for Adam. If we will let Him, He wants to take the responsibility for creating and introducing our mate, just like He did with Eve.

So do we hide our heads in nearby holes, pretending the world doesn't exist? Do we sit in our homes, eating TV dinners and watching infomercials while the rest of society goes out and has a blast? No! What are you doing for God if you're doing the couch potato routine.

Singleness for Adam was a time of work and preparation. What is your assignment from God? Get on with it! Can you go out with friends and see a movie or have dinner, without romance entering the picture? Absolutely! Trust me, there is more than you can get done if you allow God to direct you. And in the mean time, He'll prepare you and your mate for each other. You can have a fun, active social life without ruining what God has for you in love and romance.

Read Genesis 2:18-25 and Genesis chapter 24. Then take some time to get alone with God and pray. Tell Him all that you want and why - it will not shock or surprise Him. Then listen. Are you willing to trust Him with your life? What about with your heart?

Stacey Romager is a writer and co-founder of Supernatural Ministries, devoted to teaching God's ways in love and romance. She can be reached at supernaturalministries@yahoo.com. Further information is also available at http://www.supernaturalministries.com.

Ya know what I hate? Going to a movie I've been dying
to see, by myself, and having a couple sit in front of
me, making out. That's when loneliness has a bite.

We see other people in relationships and we want that
so bad that we begin to feel sorry for ourselves. We
deserve more, right? Why them and not us?

Maybe it sneaks in while you're at home in the
evenings, wishing for someone to really share with,
somebody who wants to be there with you. And you
won't find many sitcoms about happy, fulfilled single
people!

Loneliness is something we all face, at one time or
another, and it can make us do some downright stupid
things, like looking around for a new romance. We all
know how those tend to turn out: the best we can find
is the worst person possible.

So, if loneliness is a universal problem, what do we
do with it, about it, in reaction to it?

In Philippians 4:11, Paul said, "for I have learned to
be content in whatever circumstances I am." He wrote
that while in chains in a Roman prison. I can't say
I'm there, but I'm working on it.

Learning is really the key here. No one is born
content, anymore than we are born compatible with
other people. We all want what we want. The problem
is that we have the wrong perspective.

For just a minute, imagine you are standing beside God
in heaven, looking down. How much more could you see
from there? God sees everything, and He gives us only
His very best. That means that being single, right
now, is what is best for us, right now. Why should we
try to alter the situation.

But what do we do?!

We take our cue from Paul, and from Jesus. Even He
had to deal with it. Think about it - Jesus was a 33
year old single guy running with a gang of twelve
other guys. And in that is our first hint.

We never see Jesus sitting alone on a rock out in the
middle of nowhere, asking God why He can't have one of
those, like the other married guys. Instead, Jesus
was on a mission from God, and part of that was
teaching others what He knew, which just happened to
be everything. Jesus looked around, found friends,
and reached out to them.

Who around you could use a friend? Who needs a hand
up the Christian growth ladder? Do what Jesus did -
Reach Out!

In I Corinthians 7:34, Paul says a single woman can
devote herself fully to God. How's your Spiritual
life right now? Do you have a daily prayer and
Scripture reading time? Are you an active, serving
member of a local church? What talents or abilities
has God given you that He wants you to use in His
service?

I know how easy it can be to fall back into search
mode, but romance doesn't eliminate loneliness. Ask
almost any married woman, and she will admit to times
of loneliness. At it's root, loneliness is feeling
disconnected from God. Jesus died so that we don't
ever have to feel that. We have the constant presence
of the Holy Spirit.

But while on the cross, Jesus suffered a greater
loneliness than we can even imagine. As He became sin
for us, the Father had to turn away. In Matthew
24:46, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have you
forsaken me?"

Jesus was at the loneliest place in the world, and it
had nothing to do with being married or single.

Next time loneliness begins to nip at your heels, use
it as a wake up call. Pick up you Bible or hit your
knees, or call someone else who could use a friend.
Get involved in your church and let God transform you
into the person you need to be for Christ the Saviour.
He is waiting!