Carolyn McCulley posted a very poignant letter she received (details changed to obscure identities) and her response on her blog today. In the letter, a never-married 39-year-old expresses her pain at having remained single so long, and questions whether she should consider marrying a non-Christian for companionship. "How much longer?" she asks.
Part of the remedy which Carolyn suggests is the fellowship of other believers. Reading this, I am so thankful for the community which God has graciously provided me through my church friends, and other Christian friends. At certain moments we all need encouragement, and God commands us to bear one another's burdens in these times (Gal. 6:2). I am also humbled to realize the power of loneliness to overwhelm us, causing us to rationalize behavior which God forbids. I certainly do not consider myself immune to the temptation this woman is facing.
May God continue to heal us of our pride, our self-pity, our "entitlement" mindset in regards to marriage (or any of His other blessings); and may we continually turn back to Jesus and His finished work on the cross.
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3 comments:
A good friend of mine shared with me her own heart ache when she found out that a fellow small group member left the church and her faith for a non-Christian man because she was so tired of waiting and so lonely. I know that this is a real temptation for people and that we need to be honest about the pain that can be involved in protracted singleness.
Corrin, you are right... I think this temptation may be especially strong for Christian women if they receive attention, flirtation, invitations to date, etc. from non-Christian men (rather than from their brothers in Christ). But, as noted in the comments on the original article that I referenced, the existence of the temptation does not excuse the sin. Christ was "...tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15). We need to be gracious and compassionate, yet truthful, with our sisters (and brothers?) who may be experiencing this struggle.
Yay for our prayer group! I've felt so encouraged by it, even after just meeting once. Being single does get lonely, but I'm finding our prayer group to be very helpful. Thanks again for starting it. :-)
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