May 19, 2015 Issue #110

Waiting is so hard for singles

Or you may be waiting for a break in your career. Or for relief from pain or a disability. Or simply for the peace of soul all of us seek.

Waiting is so hard. I'm writing this on my 64th birthday, and I can tell you a secret you won't hear in many other places: Every day you hear someone telling you, "Don't wait!" The secret is that they're doing this on purpose and for a reason.

Advertisers do it because they want you to spend money without thinking about it first. If they can get you in the habit of doing that (and many people do), you'll buy a lot of things you don't need and maybe even don't want. That's good for them, not so good for you.

Sometimes a boyfriend or girlfriend will urge you not to wait. Their selfishness wants to take advantage of you right away. Have you ever felt that pressure? Then afterward, you wish you had waited.

Society may be subtly telling you "Don't wait!" It makes you feel as if you're getting old, that life is passing you by. You have these panicky feelings that if you don't get married soon, it will be too late. So you compromise and say yes to somebody you know is not right for you. Maybe you hope you can change them later. Maybe you hope God will change them or that things will work out. Or maybe you cohabit. Even worse.

In this month's article we'll look at waiting, why it's so hard, and why it's the wisest move on your part. But you'll find some surprises there. I don't believe in waiting and doing nothing. That's the worst thing you can do!

We may have to wait, but that doesn't mean we're helpless. Just the opposite! It can be one of the most important times of your life, if you look at it with the right attitude.

Here are some thoughts on why waiting is so hard.

He is working

Tomorrow when you're on the job
and your mind is occupied.
Someone still is working;
He is always on your side.

Nothing may be happening,
at least that you can see.
But all the while He's working,
working, working on your plea.

A world exists beyond our eyes,
invisible to men.
But everything that happens
is decided there and then.

So when you think that God is gone,
remember that's not true.
He is working, working, working,
working silently for you.

~ Jack Zavada, 2015 ~

May's quotarian: John Piper

An invisible God can do invisible work--work we can't see or understand. He is all-powerful, moving people and events to make things happen. The Bible bears witness to this over and over.

But don't assume God did that only in the lives of Bible characters thousands of years ago. God doesn't change. He still does that now, and each of his children is important to Him. You are important to him. He knows your name, your circumstances, and He hears your prayers. He is working for you at this very moment.

Waiting while God works requires surrender, because it forces us to be on His timetable instead of our own. That's why waiting is so hard. When you understand that God uses waiting time to draw you closer to Him, things become clearer.

Don't believe what you see; don't believe what you feel. Believe what he says in his Word: "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" (Isaiah 30:18, NIV)

Are you missing out on life's best choices?

The hard lesson I learned, years later, is that we singles do have a choice. That's why I wrote Hope for Hurting Singles.

If you're tired of being miserable, it's time to live your life in hope instead of heartache. As I often say, the clock is ticking on all of us. We can't recover lost months or years. Life is too short to feel hopeless.

Hope for Hurting Singles is a 146-page ebook in PDF format. When you purchase it, you'll be reading it on your computer within minutes. It's only $9.97 and comes with a money back guarantee. There's also a Kindle version.

You'll find real world advice to help you rise above:

* Loneliness,
* Shyness,
* Rejection,
* Depression,
* Low self-esteem
* Fear,
* Frustration and bitterness.

What would it be like to wake up in the morning feeling hopeful about your life again? Check out the details on Hope for Hurting Singles.

Quotations for singles who are waiting

Waiting is made easier when you remember God works in silence, behind the scenes, and because of His colossal love for you, he always has your best interests at heart.

Here are some quotations to help you while you're waiting:

Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent.
Billy Graham

You usually have to wait for that which is worth waiting for.
Craig Bruce

Sometimes you must stand still in order to get moving to where God wants you to go.
D.A. McBride

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
Lamentations 3:25

Worrying is arrogant because God knows what He's doing.
Barbara Cameron

In the words of a pastor friend, "Christianity is less about holding on to God and more about God holding on to you.”
Lori Hatcher

The greatest sense of love, which is available for us at all times, is God’s love.
Stormie Omartian

Oh, and here are a couple articles that may help you in your waiting too:

Why you don't have to be afraid of the future.

The wisdom in being still.

What to do while you're waiting on God.

Get outdoors and boost your morale!

Most of www.inspiration-for-singles.com is mobile-friendly now, although I still have many pages to convert to a newer design format. Unfortunately, running a web site has become more technical than ever, which leaves less time for writing and adding new pages. The up side is that after 10 years, I still enjoy it.

Visitors to www.inspiration-for-singles.com from Germany have skyrocketed in the past several months, accounting for nearly 25 percent of our traffic. What's going on? If you're a subscriber in Germany, please drop me an email telling me how you learned about the site and if you know why it's suddenly popular in your country. Just use this simple contact form.

Wow! 2015 is almost half over already! For the remainder of the year, I'll be revisiting a few topics that have been popular with you, as well as adding a few lessons on what to do (and NOT to do) to have a happier life as a single, from my vast storehouse of blunders. Ha!

Until June, remember who you are, remember what God has done for you, and remember to touch another heart with kindness,

Jack Zavada