October 2024
Issue 223

"Now what?"

The question that determines your destiny

Maybe it's before a decision at work or while considering your response to an upsetting situation. Sometimes you carefully weigh your options before you answer, but too often you ignore this "Now what?" question altogether and launch into a knee-jerk reaction.

This month's feature article lays out how we can control our future by making wiser choices—and who doesn't want to make wiser choices?

We singles can't stick our head in the sand and wish decisions would go away. They just won't, so we need a smart way to deal with them.

There is a way to improve the consequences of our actions, and it's available to all of us. It simplifies the process by limiting our choices. It presents the best alternatives and reduces remorse.

Check out how to respond to "Now what?"

Things will work out

Losses that haunt you across all these years
can surprise with their power to
conjure up tears.

It's everyone's story as ancient as time,
how suffering comes without
reason or rhyme.

But there is a truth that can change everything
for women and men who still
follow the King.

The Book says that we are all part of a plan
that God established before
this world began.

He is your Father, Protector and Friend,
which means that things will
work out in the end.

For heaven is real and God's still in control,
and there you'll find healing
and peace for your soul.

~ Jack Zavada, www.inspiration-for-singles.com, 2024 ~

Wait. What if you don't get married?

No, the answer is not "making the best of a bad situation". That approach leads to bitterness and resentment. Believe me, I tried it.

Nor is it a matter of putting on a happy face to convince people how contented you are. You'll feel like a phony, and you should.

Instead, the answer to "Now what?" is to grab onto Jesus Christ as tightly as you can. See, Jesus is the real objective in life, not a spouse. A spouse can divorce you or die before you do. Jesus never leaves, and he loves you much more than any spouse ever could.

Hope for Hurting Singles shows you how to do that—how to grab onto Jesus. It convicts you, once and for all, that Jesus is not a consolation prize, some sort of appeaser for people who didn't snag the brass ring.

Do you believe the Bible? Then consider this: You won't find one verse in it telling you to put your hope in your spouse, the government, or your employer. No, it tells you to Put your hope in God. (Psalm 42:5)

Hope for Hurting Singles is worth your time and your $10.99 because it will change your mind. It will turn you in the direction God wants you to go. It's not rocket science.

It's the real answer to "Now what?".

QOTM: The unknown Disney

We singles are faced with decisions every day. What to do? Which way to go? For followers of Jesus Christ, the choices are obvious. We don't have to agonize over a long list of options. Because of who we are, our alternatives are limited.

Here's how to pick the best way: Will this choice honor God or offend him? Does this choice follow biblical principles? Who am I more concerned with pleasing, God or the world?

Our values come from the Bible. Once we commit to live up to them, our direction is sure. The Christian life doesn't always go smoothly, but its outcome is a done deal. We know where we're going and each godly decision brings us closer.

You mean I can choose happiness?

The truth is that happiness comes about through our perspective on life—our response to the "Now what?" question covered in this month's feature article at the top of this newsletter.

What will you let bother you? Will you allow your circumstance to govern your moods, or will you be determined enough to rise above them?

Are you willing to be so stubborn that you will be happy no matter what is going on in your life?

Satan wants you to be miserable, but the Holy Spirit can help you see through his tricks. Every day spent feeling wretched is a day lost forever. This is a decision so profound you can only do it with God's help.

Don't see yourself as a victim. Instead, be an overcomer.

Here are some tips on how to choose happiness.

How to avoid my monster mistake

Here it is in a nutshell: I battled low self-esteem for decades because I believed the wrong things.

I compared myself to others. I let my looks affect my self-image. I thought I had to excel at things other people were good at. I swallowed the hurtful comments people made about me.

Most painfully, I listened to a church that told me God loved me based on my performance. It convinced me I couldn't be acceptable unless I did lots of good works, and sadly, I could never do enough.

Please don't do what I did. If you're doing any of those things now, please stop!

We look for affirmation in all the wrong places: our family, social media, our friends, our job, and even in the mirror. But the only true, unshakable source of self-esteem comes from Jesus Christ. Look to him and nowhere else.

Jesus accepts you as you are. He loves you so powerfully that once you grasp it, it brings tears to your eyes. His love makes up for everything. When you feel hurt and beat up and hopeless, Jesus alone can heal your soul. You are of immense value because Jesus loves you.

Remind yourself of that every day until it becomes the overriding truth in your life.

Jesus rescued me from low self-esteem with his love. He will do the same for you. His love will make you feel like you've never felt before. Don't believe what anyone else tells you. Believe him. You are precious to God.

Jesus for Singles ebook

It's a quick read, only 56 pages in PDF format. It covers the topics of loneliness, depression, anger, pain, forgiveness, possessions, mo/ney, obedience, purpose, and eternity.

As always, the f+reebies on inspiration-for-singles are available with no address capture and no conditions. When I say F//REE, I mean F//REE—except, of course, when I'm trying to get this email past your spam filters.

Here's where to get it, and please tell a friend:

Jesus for Singles ebook

And that, single pal, is the October newsletter. I hope it was helpful for you. Should you wish to comment, drop me an email through our secure contact form. No reply-bots for me! I'll send you a personal answer in a day or two.

Thanks for reading. And speaking of thanks, our Thanksgiving issue is a month away. Until turkey-time,

PS: Not a Christian yet? Find out how to become a Christian.