the discipline of


SINGLENESS BY JOCELIN BOUTET


Singleness is a gift from Yahweh. He has made each of us just as we are for a purpose, and we have a choice to either accept that gift or reject it.


For most of us, it will be a gift for a time meaning that we will marry at some point in life. It is not always the easiest gift to be happy or content with.


I was pondering this question, when I read a quote that answered it very nicely. “Remember, God Himself was the one who said in Genesis, ‘It is not good for man to be alone!’


God knew that man was incomplete without woman – even though God was there, too. The desire to be ‘completed’ by a woman is formed by God into the heart of every man.”


Even though this is a God given desire, we need to head what Paul so wisely wrote in Philippians 4:11b, “I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances.”


If I cannot learn to be content as a single, how will I ever be content once I am married? We need to find our contentment with Yahweh and our relationship to him and then count everything above that as extra blessings.


If I am content in Yahweh, then I will be better prepared to weather the storms of life such as illness, financial issues, or other troubles, all the while truly enjoying the blessings He sends my way.


While we are single, we need to stay focused on


the priorities that Yahweh has given us during this time. We can divide it down to five areas - our relationship to Yahweh, our family, our congregation, our friends, and our community.


As we focus on these areas, we encourage ourselves and our spiritual walk to grow, making us a better person who is more conformed to the image of our Messiah and ultimately a better future mate.


I think this is well summed up in Psalm 105:4 “Seek Adonai and his strength; always seek his presence.” We need to be pursuers of Yahweh. Do you realize that our relationship with Yahweh is a love relationship like that of a bride and groom?


Marriage has many purposes, and one of those purposes is to reflect the relationship of Yahweh to His children in a way we can understand and desire. As a single, I need to be turning my desire for a spouse into an even deeper desire to know Yahweh.


Then, out of this time of focus on my spiritual relationship and growth, I will have a much stronger relationship with my future mate if that is Yahweh’s will for my life.


This does not mean that I will be perfect. We are human after all! 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises us “No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure.”


volume 1 issue 1 | page 13


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