Pray While You’re Prey Devotion For Singles, Part IIISample

Being Single Will Not Kill You

They (the proverbial ‘they’ of whom no one really knows the identity) say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” It is kind of a rallying cry for the stormy times of life. It is the comfort in knowing that a trial might take you to the brink of death, but on the other side of it, you will be better, wiser, stronger, and able to face even more challenges of life. I don’t know about anyone else, but there have been times when my life felt like loneliness itself would kill me. It did not feel like it would make me stronger at all. It felt like I was getting weaker and weaker by the moment.

There was even a time in my life when I considered hurting myself, so that those I loved would have to surround. The possibility of death seemed, but a mere inconvenience to my plan. I felt that if I succeeded the loneliness would end because I would be surrounded by people who cared about my life. And, if the plan took a left turn and I did not survive, I would never feel the pain of loneliness again. I am well aware of how irrational that line of thinking was, but at the time, I was so depressed that it actually made sense.

Even though, God had shown me in that instance that all I needed to know is that He is there for me, caring for me, and that He has my best interest in mind, there are still times when it feels like being single is going to be the end of me. But, every time that happens, I survive. What’s more is that I survive with a testimony.

As the psalmist wrote, I realize that I will not die but live. Furthermore, I live to proclaim that being single will not kill you. It may seem like it will at times, but those are the times when we must press in to Jesus’ loving arms a little more. The times when no one will answer the phone or no one seems to be available to lend a shoulder on which to cry are the times in my life when I have experienced the most intimacy with my Savior, God. They are the times when I know He is there. They are the times that confirm that where my strength ends, His strength begins.

It is okay to cry out to God in your loneliness. Even Jesus cried out to Him in His darkest hour. It does not mean that you will no longer be single, but He will give you what you need to feel able to keep pushing forward in the life that He has planned out for you. It will be a life that is full of more than you could imagine; a life that will bring glory to His name. You will live and not die.

Prayer

Thank You, God for showing me that being single will not kill me even when I think it will.

Please forgive me for allowing my loneliness to make me think irrationally about how much You love and care for me.

Lord, please help me to understand the purpose of this season and to live in that purpose for Your glory.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen