Question #7: What do I do while I’m waiting?
As much as you might want to be in a relationship right now, there may be a period of time that passes before that happens. Well what do you do while you’re waiting? The answer is: You pray and prepare!
About a year ago we saw that we were going to need to add some seating if we were going to continue growing as a church. So we got to praying and preparing. While praying, we did some research to learn what it would take, we prepared financially by budgeting out what it would cost, etc. And last week when we launched our new Loft video venue, we had 787 people in attendance, which was up 155 people from the previous week! Interestingly enough, we added 160 seats and God went and sent us 155 people. Why didn’t God send those 155 people before we launched the video venue? Because we weren’t ready for them! Sending us the people before we were ready for them wouldn’t be good for them or for us.
Friends – faith is preparing for what you’re believing God to do. If you’re believing God to bring a special someone into your life, you better get to praying and preparing. Here’s some suggestions on how you can prepare:
- Take this time to learn everything you can about what it takes to be successful in a relationship. Proverbs 15:22 says “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Read books like Finding the Love of Your Life by Dr. Neil Clark Warren, attend sermon series like this. Ask questions of people whose marriage you respect. You know – each year when I do a marriage and relationship series, without fail, I hear of people who skip the series because they are single and don’t want to be reminded, through the series, how they haven’t found someone yet. I always think to myself: This is why you’re single! You’re skipping the very education God wants you to have to prepare you for a relationship. In other words, since you’re not ready, God hasn’t brought the right person into your life yet. In college, my theology professor would always ask us: If God called you to this school, doesn’t it follow that he has called you to faithfully attend class each day, even the ones you might not like as much as others? If God called you to this school, doesn’t it follow that every class is part of the training and preparation that God wants you to have for the future He’s called you to? I would say the same thing to everyone who calls New Day their church family. If God has called you to attend this church, doesn’t it follow that each series is part of the training God wants you to have to prepare you for the future He’s called you to? Think about it…
- Work a job and save money. Both Solomon and the Shulamite had jobs (1:6-7). When that special someone comes into your life, you’re going to need a ring and in time a downpayment for a home. So get a job and start saving money.
- Use your singleness to serve the Lord in a way you won’t be able to when you’re in a relationship. In 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 the apostle Paul makes clear that single people can devote themselves to the purposes of God in a special way, an undivided way, something a married person cannot do. You see – single people have more discretionary income they can give to God’s work since they don’t have a spouse to care for. And they have more discretionary time to give to God’s work since they don’t have a spouse or children of their own. Some who are single are made to feel like second class citizens in God’s kingdom. Maybe you’re single and you’ve felt like that…But on the contrary – you are God’s secret weapon! So I would encourage you – don’t waste your singleness! It may be for a season or it may be for life – but take advantage of your singleness by using it for the Lord in a special way. Those who are married should probably serve in only one service (attend one and serve one). But those who are single might want to stick around and serve in all three services. Why? Because you can! You are God’s secret weapon and if you’ll yield yourself to being used of him for the expansion of his kingdom he’ll use you in great ways. Matthew 6:33 says to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and that as a result all these things shall be added unto you. “All” here means “all” – including marriage. You stay busy about the Lord’s work and you let him stay busy finding you the right person.
Learn all you can. Work a job and save money. And use this special season to devote yourself to the Lord in a special way. This is what you do with your singleness. It’s not a disease. It’s a special opportunity. So use it wisely.