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,

Interested in reading more?

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