Bad Advice

Don't worry yall, this is not going to be another blog post about how it's okay to be single. I cannot tell you enough how tired of reading those I am. *aka please stop sending me articles about being single.* This might sound a little rambly so stick with me.

When I was a young teenager, I had someone within the church tell me and a few other girls my age that it was totally okay to be single. Nothing wrong with that, right? Then they said that when we were right with God and our relationship with God was solid, then would He send us a spouse. 

Sheesh. 

If you work with teenage girls, or really any humans at all, PLEASE don't ever tell them that when they do a certain something, God will then do something in return. We don't control God. That's not how it works. We don't know what He's planning for our lives. It's just bad theology and can be very damaging. 

It took me until I was about a sophomore in college to know that that advice was a load of poop. I spent about 6 years feeling insecure in my relationship with Christ. I had thoughts running through my head like "Why haven't I met someone yet? Something with my relationship with Christ must be wrong." or "I need to pay more attention to my faith or else I'll never get married."

Yall, both of these are so ridiculous. As I type them out, it seems so silly and embarrassing that I was having those thoughts. However, that's what I had been told and it stuck with me. Even do this day, my brain will think those thoughts and I have to catch myself. Now, these ladies meant well. They had no idea that this would be the implication of their words. And they taught me multiple other things that have greatly influenced my faith in a positive way. But that one piece of advice messed with me for 6 whole years. 

My relationship status has absolutely nothing to do with my relationship with Christ. I am complete because I am complete in Christ. I love Jesus and I love Him not expecting anything to return.

I don't really know the point of this blog. Maybe it's to remind you if you are single, that God has not forgotten about you. Maybe it's to remind you that are you loved and wanted. Maybe it's to remind you that as a single person, you have a very unique ministry opportunity that you may not have forever. Take advantage of it! And when people that truly do care about you send you articles on being single and continually ask if you're married yet, try telling them everything God is doing in your life. Give them examples of how God is using you. Believe it or not, you don't have to be married to start serving Christ ;)

Take heart, friends. You are loved, cherished, and not alone.