focus

So you are now officially a single girl.

You've just recently experienced the exhilarating feeling of graduating from high school. There's a fresh, new outlook on life. It seems full of endless possibilities and wonderful opportunities. You can't wait to have the summer free to just relax! You have pushed hard for this day, and now you only wish to bask in the glory of having accomplished life's biggest feat–so far.

Maybe your life is already planned out–you know exactly which college you will attend, what is your major, what job you want, and what kind of car you'd like to buy. Or maybe you don't know any of the above, and you are just waiting and praying.

Perhaps you have been out of high school for a while. You have enjoyed college, or maybe you are just working a job and saving money. You've felt the thrill of accomplishing some of your goals, but you long to know more, to do more.

What is that strange, new feeling that has taken over your mind and heart lately? You do love your parents, brothers and/or sisters, church, job and your life in general. But you find that living has become monotonous. Nothing has really changed much in one, two, or five years. You long to live a happy, fulfilled life. In your mind that includes marriage. But you see nothing arriving on the horizon. Where are all the guys? They must have moved to a far-off island in the South Pacific or something like that. The guys you do know are not work taking a second glance at, yet you see no one else.

Your heart becomes anxious. You find that many of your thoughts center around marriage, children, and a home of your own. You watch your friends with envy as they become serious with their boyfriends, and your heart longs for love and affection. You fight jealousy as you stand beside your best friend at her wedding. Why does it seem like all your joy in life is contingent on one solitary theme–marriage?

You are not alone.

Many have been where you are now. There have been some who caved in and gave up. They found the first attractive guy they could and held onto him for all they were worth. Their lives are now a bitter and confusing mess.

Others have stayed true despite unbelievable loneliness and pain. They have fought valiantly against feelings of frustration, anger, fear, envy, and emptiness. And they have won.

You can, too.

No matter where you find yourself on the path of singleness, today you can have a life of joy and fulfillment. Jesus said in John 10:10b , "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." There is no excuse for a bitter, empty life. You can have true joy today, and all you must do is ask!

What is true joy? It is when you come to understand that you are a sinner and nothing you can do could ever get you to Heaven. As you admit your need of a Savior and turn to Christ, you see His sacrifice on the cross is enough to pay for your sins. You accept His work and cast yourself upon Him.

Something beautiful happens next. You find a God Who is real in your life–you know His love, feel His presence, see Him do miraculous things in answer to your prayers. You know Him first as your Savior, then as Lord of your entire life. As you grow in the knowledge of Him, you learn to love Him more and seek to know Him more. He becomes your dearest Friend. He is the only One Who knows and understands you completely, because He made you. When your heart is breaking, He understands and draws you close to Himself.

As you can see, I never once mentioned marriage as having anything to do with fullness of joy. Although marriage can be a wonderful event in our lives, it alone can never truly bring us true joy that is lasting. Knowing the God Who created marriage–that is real joy!

There is an abundant life, and it can be yours today!

Janessa