| Living as a Christian single in this world is sometimes | | | | navigate this life. We have God's word and guidance |
| difficult to do. As singles we sometimes think that | | | | in His word. First we must be assured in God's |
| our lives are in balance and we have things under | | | | unconditional love for us as His children. The trials we |
| control. Suddenly, however, we find the rug is pulled | | | | face in this life are not punishment for anything we |
| out from under us. | | | | have done. That is not the nature of our God. There |
| I can finally pay those bills each month that I used to | | | | is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ |
| dread. My relationship with my family has been | | | | Jesus. (Romans 8:1) |
| restored. My heart is at peace and I can feel | | | | You may feel like you have already suffered so |
| complete without having a partner at my side. Then | | | | much. You have turned to God, repented for your |
| a large gust of wind comes along and all of the things | | | | sins so why are you forced to suffer more? Jesus |
| that we struggled so hard to get into place are | | | | promised eternal salvation for all who believe in Him, |
| scattered. | | | | he never said that it was going to be an easy road. |
| How will I have the strength to pick up all these | | | | Our faith in God will give us the strength to endure |
| pieces again? What did I do wrong, or not do that I | | | | these times. God is faithful; he will not let you |
| find myself seemingly back to where I first started? | | | | experience a crisis, beyond what you can bear. He |
| Did I disappoint God? Did He forget that I was here? | | | | will give you a way out so you can stand up under it. |
| These are questions we all as single Christians may | | | | (1 Corinthians 10:13) |
| ask as we search for some explanation for our crisis. | | | | One of the biggest things I have learned about why |
| Part of our human condition is that we can't | | | | God allows us to be tested in this world is to bring us |
| understand the big picture in God's entire plan. Our | | | | closer to Him. We tend to put God on the back |
| vision is limited and short sighted. We can only focus | | | | burner until we need Him. We check in weekly just |
| on what is directly in front of us at the time. | | | | to say "Hi, things are good and everything is pretty |
| If you looked at a large tapestry up close, it would | | | | under control down here" |
| seem like a bunch of jumbled up threads without any | | | | Are they really good? Do you have things under |
| sense of order. Step back a few feet and your eyes | | | | control or are you allowing God to be in control? |
| would behold the beauty of a magnificent work of | | | | Maybe God is just trying to get your attention. We |
| art. | | | | are all God's children. He wants to be part of our lives |
| Only God can see our lives as that magnificent work | | | | each and every day. |
| of art and know that all that jumbled up messiness is | | | | As a Christian single going through storm s of life |
| woven together into a beautiful creation. Romans | | | | pray continuously and give thanks in your |
| 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good. | | | | circumstances (1 Thessalonians) that doesn't mean |
| That is fine, you may say, but how do I deal with | | | | that God expects us to be thankful FOR the storm |
| my jumbled up mess and have faith in God's promise | | | | we are in. We are just called to remember that we |
| in the meantime? | | | | serve an awesome God who will deliver us out of |
| Fortunately we are not left without a resource to | | | | the storm and restore us in Him. |