Living happily ever after can start right now
Fairy tales end with the saying, "And they lived happily ever after."
But the single life is no fairy tale, and many singles despair of finding that special joy they're seeking. It doesn't have to be that way.
Are you convinced you can be happy only if you get married? Have you come to the point where you think contentment is for everybody else but you?
We have to be realistic, but we need to temper our outlook with hope. Hope is not a hollow word, a wish only for little children and the naive. Hope is for everyone, and most of all for single people.
Living happily ever after in the present
When we desire to live happily ever after, the natural question is "after what?" In fairy tales, it's usually after the prince and princess overcome some great obstacle or after two people get married.
But let's be coldly realistic. For Christians, it means something very different. It means our happiness should come after we've been saved.
"Say what?" you may think. "I'm not a Christian. I wish this guy'd get off that stuff."
No apologies from me. That's what this site--and life--are all about.
I've tried other things and they just don't work. I suspect they're not
working for you right now, so please try to keep reading with an open
mind.
There's a next life, a heaven.
The Bible says so, Jesus said so, and I believe it. But I also
believe we shouldn't put off our joy until then. I think God wants it
to start for us right here, right now.
It can, if you face the
single life from a saved perspective. You already know your life is
going to have a happy ending, namely heaven. But what happens between
now and then is largely up to you.
Living happily ever after in your attitude
The truth of life is that bad things happen to good people. I'm assuming you're a good person, and I'm also assuming that some bad things have happened to you.
You know my story. Some bad things have happened to me, too. But I learned long ago that my attitude made all the difference in the world. You can focus on what you have or focus on what you lost. Which seems wiser?
The secret of contentment is appreciating your blessings, even if they seem few. You have a capable mind. You have at least one good friend, family too, I hope. You have the necessities of life. Maybe you have decent health. You have education. And you have the freedom to go out and do some things you enjoy.
Attitude is one of the few things we can control, and it's so extremely important. It makes the difference between choosing happiness and choosing sadness.
A hope-filled attitude reminds you that life can change quickly. God still does do miracles, and the Holy Spirit stands ready to encourage and guide you. Those truths should make you glad.
Living happily ever after going forward
To make your future bright, you have to let Christ light the way. He described himself as the Light of the World. By him you can see things clearly. You can cut through the fog, getting an accurate picture of what matters and what doesn't.
As singles, we have to keep trying, no matter how many times we fail. We need to separate the act of failure from ourselves. You are not a failure, no matter how many times you have failed. Trying has made you a success. God isn't keeping score. His love for you never wavers, never stops. Knowing you have his unconditional love should make you live happily ever after.
Like Paul, you can say "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13, NKJV) Knowing that should make you happy too. "All things" may not include your dreams and plans, but it does include God's plan for you.
Find joy in the only reliable source: God. Know that you can draw strength from Christ any time you need it--any time. And go forward secure in God's forgiveness and his life-transforming love for you.
