Singleness: God's Gift to Us?

I've been thinking a lot about singleness recently... maybe it's because I've been as single as a person can be for most of my life...ok, for all of my life. I've never known what it's like to be in love, never been pursued by a guy. Sometimes, I'm grateful for this. Other times... frustrated, hurt, even angry.

In my insecurity, I wonder, "Why? Is there something wrong with me? Is there something that God is trying to teach me that I haven't learned yet?" I feel rejected, and like I'm somehow not enough. Lies, most of them... but they seem so true!

I've heard the answers a thousand times, and I've told them to others a thousand times... "There's nothing wrong with you. Guy's are sometimes intimidated. Be more open. No good thing will God withhold from them who walk uprightly... Wait on God's timing." Some of the answers are true, and some of them are just well-meaning platitudes or advice. I try to sort through them in my mind and in my heart.

Wanting desperately to trust God, yet wanting to be honest too. Why the restlessness? Why the pain in loneliness?

I've had a few thoughts on the matter... take them for what they are, thoughts... I'm writing them down so that I can re-read them later.

Singleness has been God's gift to me. It's not what I asked for, not what I thought I wanted. But for some reason, God has intentionally put it in my life at this time for my good and for His glory. I can rest in that and rejoice in it, because I know my Father is good. He is the author of pleasure, not the enemy of it.

That verse from Psalms is true, "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." This means that God gives us everything we need to glorify Him and to be happy at any stage in life - whatever our circumstances. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Secondly, the pain has been a cause of brokenness in my life. God uses many things in our lives, in His love, to break us and demonstrate His love for us... it could be singleness or it could be a difficult marriage, the loss of someone you love, a hard job situation, or not having work, or not being able to have children, or any other number of shattered dreams that we encounter in life. And in this brokenness, he calls us to run to Him... to cry on His shoulder and to let Him carry our burdens.

Yes, I do wish that I had a real shoulder to cry on sometimes instead of just a heavenly one. Sometimes, God gives that to me. Sometimes He doesn't. But He has always been faithful to meet me and to supply my every need - spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Jesus has bought me flowers and taken me on dates... even bought me jewelry once!

Someday, God may give me a husband through whom I can experience His greater love for me. But today, He has given me Himself... and, at the risk of being cliche, He IS enough!