I think most singles grapple with waiting pretty much all the time, but the start of a new year intensifies the waiting. It illuminates the absence of that future husband or wife you've been praying for. It stirs up and confuses your emotions. It can even make you question God. After all, who wants to face another new year with no hint of a future wife or husband in sight. All you keep hearing is talk, talk, talk, and no action. WHY IS GOD TAKING SO LONG?
I often get asked if I'm single or in a serious dating relationship, and of course I give them an answer which is usually followed up by a flood of questions. But what I do find interesting is that some people think that I've had this fairy tale love life without waiting on God. During the course of my life's journey, I've done my fair share of waiting, and it's been mostly impatient waiting. It maybe hard to believe, but I know what it's like to date the wrong guy. I know what it's like to date a really great guy who has commitment issues. I know what it's like to have great chemistry with someone whose emotionally unavailable. Trust me I know... AND I also know that old Tracy is not the new Tracy that is much stronger and is what you see today. I'm not boasting about anything, but I am a product of learning how to wait patiently.
Occasionally, I may run into someone whose read some of my social media connections, and I can see and discern that this individual is an amazing person. I sometimes think, boy he would be great for this person or maybe she would enjoy meeting him. It seems I'm the center of meeting people who haven't met each other if that makes any sense to you. Maybe I should start a dating connection service lol. When I meet these people, I can hear the dedication in their voices as I listen to their stories, and like you, they too are waiting on God. Some of them have strong faith in their waiting, and some of them still have a sprinkle of doubt wrapped up in their faith. At the end of the day, they are waiting, they are trusting God according to their level of faith, and they have a kin sense of awareness to meet their future wife or husband.
Waiting can cause weakness for an individual whose getting weary. You may find yourself justifying being with someone so that you don't have to be alone. You may even see a need to not wait on God and force a relationship to happen. I don't think you really want any of the results that would surely come from what I just mentioned, so when you find yourself getting weary in waiting, stop, take an adult time out and reset yourself.
Waiting can also cause strength to emerge. While you're still single, you have more time to spend with and serve God, and in the Bible, Paul even talks about that in 1 Corinthians 7:32. You have more time to get educated on what you need to do not just to maintain, but to sustain a healthy relationship rooted in Christ. Most importantly, you have more time to examine yourself and continue working on becoming a better you for your future husband or wife.
For those who maybe a little weak, my advice to you is to face the weaknesses you may have so that you can address and correct any behavior. Find other Christ filled singles who are an example to you and that you can be accountable too for guidance. If you can find a church or small group that have ministries dedicated to serving singles, you may want to consider checking them out. For those of you who find more strength in your waiting, my advice to you is don't hoard it over those who maybe struggling. It's WONDERFUL that you are further along which makes you a great candidate to be that Christ filled person I just spoke about who can serve to be an example to other singles. In that strength you have make sure it's filled with compassion and love.
I know your time will come to find love. I trust that God knows what He's doing for you. I believe you need to do everything possible to get yourself ready which means action on your part. This action I'm referring too is not just talking about what you need or want to do. Nor does this action include having good intentions. This action requires you to be very intentional in moving forward and making the necessary progress. I hope to not only meet you one day, but to meet your future wife or husband and to hear your story. Always remember waiting has it's place, waiting is necessary, waiting provides wisdom, and waiting will get you the God results you long for.