Single and Content
It took me a long time to become single and content as a man. Probably a lot longer than many others, however just because I am slow doesn’t mean I don’t get there. In fact, today marked a milestone in my life of being single and content. Today was the day I buried the last hope of being married again that I can see in my future.
As some of you know, this winter I actually got engaged. I thought for sure I had finally found the right lady, but for reasons I am not going to go into publicly it didn’t work out. It was painful, and it was hard, but I know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose and we both love God, so it is for the best.
Today I sold the engagement ring and with it once again sighed a deep breath and chose to be content being single. It is a choice, but in all honesty, it is not that hard of a choice. It really all depends on what I choose to focus on. I have spent more time in the last 11 years not being in any type of relationship than time in one. I have gotten used to doing things on my own, and God has been so faithful to me in allowing me to find the good things in life rather than looking at what I am supposedly missing. I am becoming used to being single and content.
How To Become Single and Content As a Christian
Becoming Single and Content Doesn’t Happen Overnight
Now don’t get me wrong. I did not end up being single and content overnight. I did what every Gump does when newly single, hurting, and feeling alone. I did the single Christian websites, the single Christian chat rooms, and searched high and low for “Miss Right”. Honestly, what I found is a bunch of wounded people desperate to fill a void. Now that was fine when I was trying to fill a void, but now that I am no longer doing that, the pursuit of someone just does not have the same appeal.
I am not bitter, nor am I closed off to God bringing me someone, but in all honesty, I have become kind of gender blind. She will have to walk up to my front door, greet me with a big smile and plant a wet one right on the smacker before I would even notice that it might be God. (Good thing I don’t give my address out publicly huh? I might have a stampede at my front door!)
I am no expert on how to become content but I can pass on a few things I have learned over the last 11 years. I hope my few clues will help you become single and content.
You are complete and whole as a single Christian
I needed to get to the point that I realized that I was complete and whole as a single. That there was no other half out there to complete me. God did not make an incomplete individual. I was complete in Him. The bible teaches that we are His workmanship and that God is not waiting for someone to come along to complete His work. When you know you are complete it is easier to be single and content.
Stop waiting to live life.
I needed to stop waiting to live life. For years I waited for God to bring me, someone, before I would get on with life and pursue my dreams. Once I stopped waiting and went on with pursuing my dreams and doing things that I enjoyed, I started having a much more fulfilling life, and the need and focus of having someone else in my life dwindled drastically. When you are busy it is easier to be single and content.
Don’t engage in fantasy
I stopped engaging in fantasy. Now I am not talking about fantasizing about the perfect wife or even coming close to talking about porn. Those are a given and only keep you from engaging in real relationships not to mention the sin factor. I am talking about the idea that you can get to know someone, engage in a real relationship without spending lots of face-to-face time with someone in all kinds of situations. I stopped thinking I could short-circuit that process and so in being real and honest, there is no one that I can do that with at this moment, so to think that there is hope at this present moment is fantasy. When I give up the fantasy, I become content with what God has given me, and believe me, those things are good! When you are not looking for something unreal, it is easier to be single and content.
Now I don’t expect that everyone has to walk the same path as me, or has the same struggles, nor will God lead them the same way, but I do hope that at least some of the lessons I have learned will help you become content as a single person in Christ. The single life really is not all that bad! You don’t have to put the toilet seat down!
Now that alone is something to think about!