Dear Feeling alone,
I don’t know if this is you, but when I was single I struggled with the knowledge that I would be spending another Friday night without a date. So, I would make make plans with my friends, so I didn’t have to think about my singleness. Or I would binge watch romantic movies while eating a whole bag of potato chips that I had been saving for such an occasion. I would do anything that would help.
As I got older, the days of singleness did not get easier. I still made plans with whoever was also single. But slowly, one friend after another started to date and get married. Sooner or later, each friend left my small circle of singleness. That was my life until I understood the truth. In those times of depression and needing comfort, hanging with my friends was probably not the best choice. But rather, I needed to fill that time with the only one that could comfort my heart more than a cute guy. I needed to spend some quiet time with God.
“Reckless abandon is a level of surrender that unlocks the greatest treasure God has in store for His kids.” – Leslie Ludy
Instead of finding a date for Friday, I need to stay home and make a point to have a “Date with Jesus.” That’s right I needed to go on a date with Jesus. At first this kind of sounded weird to me. How can you date someone you can’t even see or hear? But as I looked into it more, I realized that Jesus wants that type of relationship with us too.
Think about it. What type of date do you want from your future boyfriend?
1. Go to the park
2. Call or text
3. Watch movies
4. Get coffee
5. Hold hands
6. Go on adventures
7. Play games
8. Go shopping
9. Simply talk/spend time
10. ….
What if I told you that Jesus wants to do those things with you too. Jesus wants to spend time with you as you walk through the park together, text you throughout your day, or watch a movie on Friday nights. I’m not sure what coffee he would like, but spending time at the coffee shop with you while you drink your coffee, I know He wouldn’t turn it down. Even when you go shopping, He is ready and willing to be there right by your side as you try on that new dress. He just wants to be with you. He wants you to get to know Him and for you to fall in love with Him. Doesn’t that sound like a boyfriend.
Jesus is the only one that can fill the gaps of our lonely hearts. He desires to be the one to hold your hand or give you a hug when you need comfort. But He can’t do that until we, the young lady, allow Him to be there.
I can tell you first hand, once you allow him to fill you up with His love and presence, that lonely feeling will disappear. Now, the desire for a relationship may not go away – God has created us to have that desire – but He never intended for that to take over our lives and minds. Even after marriage, a guy cannot fill all the emptiness in a woman’s heart. We need God throughout all our lives, from birth until death, from singleness through marriage. We will never stop needing Him, that is why He wants us to learn to go to Him for our comfort and love early on (go on those date nights with Him.)
So don’t worry about your Friday nights, you have someone that is always ready for an adventure. You just need to ask Him and then open your Bible to hear Him. He speaks when we are listening and He hears when we talk to Him in prayer. Date nights with Him are amazing. I to make a point to go on more “dates” with Him, I never leave disappointed.
But the choice is up to you. Are you going to rush to make plans with your friends, or are you going to make a point to have a date with Jesus? Which will you choose for this Friday?
Signing off,
Tami