Singles Awareness Day... I mean, Valentines Day! (I promise this isnt as melancholy as you might think)

Valetines Day.
Some of us LOVE it. Some of us LOVE to hate it. I will say I've been on both sides of the spectrum. This year.. drum roll...I'm a tad bit excited about Valentines Day. Mainly because I get to celebrate with 18, 3rd graders! partaay... . And yes, I'm getting them some sort of cartoonish Valentine and sugared treat. (and giving it to them exactly at 2:50; have fun mom and dad!!!)

BUT generally, holidays come with mixed emotions. Valentines Day can make some of us hyper aware of our singleness and others hyper aware of their relational-ness. OR not, maybe you air on the side of avoiding.. but come on... there are ridiculous waits at restaurants, cards, and candy everywhere. you can't avoid it...Besides, I'm just verbalizing what you're probably thinking about....


Anywho. This post is not typical, no analogies really and maybe more rambling.

I'm not in the marriage or dating boat, so I can't really speak into that.. but I do however think that all categories deal at some point with a sense of discontent, maybe even loneliness mixed in which might be exacerbated (i really love to use that word, it's fancy) during this holiday of love. In a weird way, when loneliness starts creeping in... you can get a little excited because it's an opportunity to know your King, to lean into Him.

Therefore I will hedge up her^[d] way with thorns,

and I will build a wall against her,

so that she cannot find her paths......

Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her.....
15 And there I will give her her vineyards
and make the Valley of Achor[e] a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. .....

 19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.

Hosea 2: 6,14-15,19-20

 

This is probably one of my all time favorite scriptures. He allures us into the wilderness, all our other loves--the things that we put at the forefront, that we push Him out in. He puts up the wall, hedges up our way with thorns.. blocks out all our other attempts to be fulfilled, and we experience it- Loneliness. (or whatever your wilderness experience) He brings us there.. speaks tenderly to us. makes the valley of achor(trouble), a door of hope! And here it comes... He betroths us to Himself forever. In righteousness. Justice. Steadfast Love. Mercy. Faithfulness. AND you shall know the Lord. Let that sink in! He does the work! This is what He does no matter our marital status! whoot!

 

His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His ways are higher than our ways. And so wherever your you find yourself--- be confident in this... HE KNOWS, your times are in His hands, and this is what He has chosen for you, for your sanctification, and to bring Himself more glory for this time. And if anyone tells you it's because you're not ready that's a big fat lie because you'll never be ready. We don't get ourselves together and then go to Christ. We go to Him and He is the one who does the work, and I'm pretty certain in our current state...we won't be perfect. So if .... You're single. You're in a relationship. You're married it's because this is what He is using to make you more like Himself. He can see the whole train... We are just on the dinner cart.

My small group leader sent this out to our small group recently...

"sometimes, I think there can be a fatigue in singleness, just as there is in marriage, but today I just want you to know that you should be honored that for at least this period your King has kept you single...He wants you all to Himself!! Cherish Him as He soooo cherishes is you. Rejoice!"

Beautiful.

 Enjoy this time, dwell in the land--- be wherever you are--- and cultivate faithfulness (look for how He is working, be aware of his faithfulness and be faithful to where He has you for right now). Know that you are cherished by your King! And use this time, ask Him to teach you how to cherish Him!

welp, this post did not turn out the way I had planned but my hope is that your heart is encouraged!