....especially on Valentine's Day.
There's something going on that I just need to address.
Valentine's day is tomorrow, and I'm complaining about it.
I don't like Valentine's day because it reminds me that one of the most beautiful things God has ever created is going on all around me and I am not a part of it.
And that stinks.
I've been seeing a lot of Christians around me talk about how we need to be content as Christian singles. How we need to let Jesus be enough. How we need to seek nothing beyond a relationship with him. How by letting the world know that we would like to experience this wonderful romantic love thing, we are somehow communicating that Jesus is not enough for us and therefore killing our witness.
And I love Jesus. You know that.
But I would just like to say that I think all of this being content in singleness stuff is a lot of crap.
You see, God created love. He created relationship. He created marriage.
He said that it was not good for man to be alone.
Even with God right there with him, Adam needed someone else.
And God gave her to him.
Because we were created for relationship.
We were not created to do life alone.
God has bigger plans than that. And he is the creator of love, relationships, and marriage.
He wants those things for us.
And to say that we need to be content without them just creates a lot of people faking contentedness in hopes that God will see their contentment and grant them relationship.
Because that is how we're told it works, right?
Become content in singleness, and then, when you least expect it and you are so in love with Jesus that you have completely forgotten about guys, he will sweep you off your feet with the man of your dreams.
That is as much of a fairytale as any Disney movie.
It doesn't happen like that.
And I don't believe that is how God created it to happen.
I don't think being discontent with singleness or Valentine's day hurts my witness for Christ. Because it shows that I am seeking what he has created for me. And I want to be a part of that party.
Of course, if these thoughts controlled my life and caused me to be unable to focus on loving Christ and serving him, we would have a problem. But they're not. This is just real life and these are real, valid feelings.
Christians keep trying to guilt trip me into being content in my singleness.
They tell me that I need to let Jesus be enough.
They tell me that my desire for a relationship is an idol competing against Christ in me.
They've probably told it to you, too.
And I'm just not okay with it anymore.
Christ in me will always shine, whether I am single or in a relationship.
And I think Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate the beautiful gifts of love God has given us.
And I can't help but feel that as a single person, I am just missing out a bit.
I know being in a relationship or a marriage isn't for everyone. Not everyone strongly desires that. And that is okay. It's great, even. If you are content in singleness, then more power to you. But if you aren't, let that be okay, too.
I am single and I am discontent with that.
And I am not trying to fix it.
Listen to Matt Chandler, he speaks it far better than I can.
There's something going on that I just need to address.
Valentine's day is tomorrow, and I'm complaining about it.
I don't like Valentine's day because it reminds me that one of the most beautiful things God has ever created is going on all around me and I am not a part of it.
And that stinks.
I've been seeing a lot of Christians around me talk about how we need to be content as Christian singles. How we need to let Jesus be enough. How we need to seek nothing beyond a relationship with him. How by letting the world know that we would like to experience this wonderful romantic love thing, we are somehow communicating that Jesus is not enough for us and therefore killing our witness.
And I love Jesus. You know that.
But I would just like to say that I think all of this being content in singleness stuff is a lot of crap.
You see, God created love. He created relationship. He created marriage.
He said that it was not good for man to be alone.
Even with God right there with him, Adam needed someone else.
And God gave her to him.
Because we were created for relationship.
We were not created to do life alone.
God has bigger plans than that. And he is the creator of love, relationships, and marriage.
He wants those things for us.
And to say that we need to be content without them just creates a lot of people faking contentedness in hopes that God will see their contentment and grant them relationship.
Because that is how we're told it works, right?
Become content in singleness, and then, when you least expect it and you are so in love with Jesus that you have completely forgotten about guys, he will sweep you off your feet with the man of your dreams.
That is as much of a fairytale as any Disney movie.
It doesn't happen like that.
And I don't believe that is how God created it to happen.
I don't think being discontent with singleness or Valentine's day hurts my witness for Christ. Because it shows that I am seeking what he has created for me. And I want to be a part of that party.
Of course, if these thoughts controlled my life and caused me to be unable to focus on loving Christ and serving him, we would have a problem. But they're not. This is just real life and these are real, valid feelings.
Christians keep trying to guilt trip me into being content in my singleness.
They tell me that I need to let Jesus be enough.
They tell me that my desire for a relationship is an idol competing against Christ in me.
They've probably told it to you, too.
And I'm just not okay with it anymore.
Christ in me will always shine, whether I am single or in a relationship.
And I think Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate the beautiful gifts of love God has given us.
And I can't help but feel that as a single person, I am just missing out a bit.
I know being in a relationship or a marriage isn't for everyone. Not everyone strongly desires that. And that is okay. It's great, even. If you are content in singleness, then more power to you. But if you aren't, let that be okay, too.
I am single and I am discontent with that.
And I am not trying to fix it.
Listen to Matt Chandler, he speaks it far better than I can.
