That word is beginning to disgust me... I'd say that most of those reading this are married and I'm totally cool with that, but I just am tired of hearing about it... I MIGHT get married some day and that will be fine, but for now I'm totally content pursuing Christ instead of a girl.
I'm kinda tired of Christian community being a holy dating pool. Paul talks about just this in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9:
8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
I absolutely don't believe there is anything wrong with marriage, but those who choose not to pursue it shouldn't be made to feel like second class citizens. Paul says that it is good not to marry. I believe that marriage is a calling that not everyone receives and I am absolutely okay with that if I'm not one who does.
I feel like all too often people, especially Christian people, have this illusion that marriage will make them happy (or sex as a result of being married will make them happy). The real problem here isn't the desire to have sex as you might be thinking. Everyone has the desire to have sex... It is ingrained in us from the beginning and is something we all deal with! The main concern is the lack of faith associated with not believing that God knows what is best and that his best will lead to true happiness. True lasting happiness will never be found in another person. It can ONLY be attained through relationship with God that includes submission to his plan.
This is what's on my mind as my friends are getting engaged and married... I'm sooo happy for them, but I slip into this place where I start to doubt whether God is going to send me someone... I then read something like 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 and it shows my silly thoughts for what they are.... silly! I have to have faith that God is bigger than my simple mind and that His plan has been well thought out and has perfect timing. God is growing me as a person to succeed in carrying out the plan He has predetermined that I am best suited for.
I've been speaking directly about marriage and relationships, but the concept of having faith that God's plan is perfect can apply to just about any situation of worry or stress. I guess my prayer today is that we could all turn our worries over to God and have enough faith to know that whatever happens that all things work together for the good.
LOVE,
D
