Waiting

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man must seek Him to find her."

At the beginning of this year, I made the decision that I would take a year off from dating. Each time I have shared this with someone, the natural response is always a wide-eyed "Why?" Well, the reason is simple:

"We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

This is probably one of the first verses I ever learned as a child in Sunday School. It's one of those verses you memorize, but don't ever really read. It is short, simple, and speaks incredible wisdom over the idea of relationships. I see this verse as A) God loves me, B) Through this, God has given me the ability to love, and C) If God first loved me, then shouldn't my priority be to first love him? 

I remember falling for last guy I dated, and spending each and every spare moment I could with him. I let my family, friendships, and job all suffer in order to create more time. Well, needless to say this relationship came to an end. This is about the time when I decided God would exist in my life again. I begged God to make this relationship work. Thankfully, God said no. I was still pretty crushed.

It took a little time, but God healed my heart. I started repairing friendships that I had left behind, and spending more time with my family. More importantly, I rearranged my priorities with God. I took a look at my life, and realized how much happiness I had found in devoting myself to God instead of just another guy. 

The next time I find myself in a relationship, I know that God is going to be at the center. I can rejoice in the fact that He has a plan for me, and He is guarding my heart. With that being said, not dating for an entire year isn't exactly going to be the easiest thing to accomplish. The incredible part about this is how much more I find myself digging into God's word, hitting my knees, and just getting lost in His presence. The more I pursue Him, the more I find myself stepping out in boldness. My heart is constantly filled with a new knowledge of what foundation a relationship should be built on.

Now I know a lot of single ladies out there who find themselves discouraged when it seems like every other day someone is getting married. Trust me, I can relate wholeheartedly. I want to be clear that I'm not saying you should give up dating. I do want to emphasize that you don't have to pursue every guy that comes your way. God doesn't us to be lonely here on earth. The Bible speaks all sorts of promises about marriage and relationships. The more you read and carry these in your heart, the more encouraged you will be. There is so much beauty to be found in waiting. Yes, there is someone out there for you, but at the end of the day remember this: God is more than enough.