[No. 28] Love Is Not Settling to Appease Your Loneliness

Love is not settling to appease your loneliness.
It took me a while to shift from feeling lonely to contently alone.
Years ago, I worked at a store the and one of our regular customers came in.
I always thought he was attractive & v edgy so imagine
my delight when he asked me to dinner that day…it was Valentine’s Day.
My lonely heart was ecstatic.
Maybe this was the guy God had for me? *cue wedding bells ?!*

By the end of the night, I knew he was not.
He was a staunch atheist and no matter what my mind tried to rationalize, my heart knew it would never work.
I went home upset and frustrated, and the counsel I got was equally confusing.
On the one hand, I had friends saying, “Go for it! You’re not dating anybody. What’s the harm?”
But on the other hand, I had the Spirit of God in me saying, “What are you doing? Do you distrust me this much?
Haven’t I always provided for you in ways you didn’t know were better?”
I rebelled for two weeks before I listened to the Spirit inside me.
When I ended things with the edgy guy, he was upset and…intrigued.
He wanted to know who this Jesus was that I would break up with him for.

Looking back, I am so thankful I didn’t give in to the temptation of settling just to feel less lonely.
That time of being alone was character building.
It scared, surprised, strengthened, and sanctified me.
If you’re in a place where you dread Valentine’s Day,
I want to encourage you that it’s a day meant for love.
And you don’t need romantic love to celebrate that.

Cheers,
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Love Is Seeking Harmony      Love Is Fighting With Respect     Love Is Giving Generously

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