The Abundant Single Life!

Uncertainty. It’s normal to experience this in the journey of singleness. And in life really. If it is left unembraced though, we can end up striving, disoriented, weary, and troubled. We can even choose to swim against the current God has clearly marked for us making the journey much harder than it was designed to be. I’ve done this a time or two. Ok – maybe more than a time or two. When uncertainty has hovered around me, it’s my thoughts that have wandered and ultimately exposed the weakness of my trust muscles. There have been times that I have thought myself into a frenzy, rather than fix my gaze on Jesus and simply trust Him to lead my heart when the path before me seems unclear. Can you relate? I’m still learning to choose to fix my gaze on Jesus daily. I’m thankful for those moments God has chosen to expose my weakness, though. It’s given me an opportunity to invite God to transform me, to be my strength in weakness, and to expand me into the identity God gave me even when...

“The tears…streamed down, and I let them flow as freely as they would, making them a pillow for my heart. On them it rested.” ~ Augustine “Tears are healing. They help to open and cleanse the wound. Grief is a form of validation; it says the wound mattered.” ~ John Eldredge As much as my heart prefers to celebrate and sing a joyous song, I’ve come to a place of befriending grief and sadness. Sorrow cannot be satisfied without it. Giving us emotions was all a part of God’s grand design when He lovingly fashioned us. I haven’t always understood or embraced my emotions. Tears have often betrayed me by springing forth sometimes at the most inopportune times, in public places no less. But there’s beauty in that, isn’t there? Being raw and uninhibited is something that comes easily for a child. Then we grow up and try to hide things. Why? Sometimes life calls for raw emotions. Sometimes it happens in public places. And for that, I’m thankful because often times grief has been ...

Remember my friend, Christian , the love doctor? Well, he has posted another great podcast on a topic that's been on my heart a lot recently: the difference between expectations and expectancy. I wrote about this very thing a year ago, and it is back on my radar. Check out my blog post on expectations vs. expectancy if you haven't read it yet or want to read it again. I outline the difference between the two and how to navigate single life with expectancy instead of expectations. I love what Christian says in his podcast. Expectancy is just another word for trust. It's so true. Listen in and see what a difference this revelation of having a heart of expectancy has made in Christian's life. If you want to explore this topic even further, listen to Danny Silk's message  and be encouraged. Here's to releasing expectations and embracing a posture of expectancy! 

I recently asked God how He wanted me to position my heart about my future marriage. His answer was to be expectant but not to have expectations. I argued with Him because the truth is it is easier to have an attitude of “oh someday I will be married and my dreams will come true.” But having a heart of expectancy makes me feel like it is immanent…like there is a date in time that has been scheduled for my Divine union with my spouse and it could be just around the corner. The truth is, God does have that date set…I just don’t know what it is yet. It is the uncertainty of the details that makes me uncomfortable. This requires me to exercise my faith, hope, and trust muscles. The difference between expectancy and expectations Let’s take a look at the difference between having expectancy and having expectations. This is how I like to define it. Expectancy attracts what I believe God for through faith with a heart of surrender to the Lord to bring it about however He wants to....