The Mountain Of Singleness

Some mornings before I can remove the crusties from the corners of my eyes I am aware there is a mountain before me.

Mornings where a heaviness, a grief, or a stumbling block looms, just waiting for me to roll out of bed. I haven’t even had a cup of coffee get into my bloodstream — yet this thing wants to steal my attention and get in my way.

If I were honest — and I am being honest — sometimes I roll over. I hit the snooze button more times than I should and try to ignore the fact that something needs to be dealt with and put in it’s proper place. Ignoring, as I have learned time and again, does not level mountains or deter battles. They are there patiently waiting and silently mocking.

These mountains can represent any number of things — struggles at work, cancer diagnoses, car problems, family issues … the list goes on. For me, many days, my mountain is singleness. It’s large, looming and casting a shadow on my day. It whispers lies to me: that I’m not enough or that I am too much or I’m unlovable and unwanted.

Singleness feels insurmountable. Unless of course, I want to take things into my own hands and settle for whatever single guy crosses my path. But that’s not the life I’ve chosen. I’ve chosen to wait for God’s best because God makes better choices than I do. He knows the type of man I need, and because I trust Him I leave it in His hands. As much as I’ve tried, I can’t rush God. He works at His own pace and no amount of prodding or begging will speed up the process. Believe me, I’ve tried.

If I can’t rush this season of singleness, do I need to just live with this mountain? Do I just deal with it? Whatever that means! No. I don’t believe so.

I get some perspective. My focus needs to shift from my mountain to my God because that is where I will see that the mountain may be big, but my God is bigger! There is nothing too difficult for Him! There is no diagnosis too complicated. No bill too large. No need too great that my God cannot handle.

Yes, even singleness.

I’m 32. As birthdays come and go, the possibility of a godly man entering my life seems more and more slim. How is it even possible, God? I look around and I don’t even see any possibilities. And yet, I serve a God who can do the impossible. That’s the type of perspective shift I need. Once I can bring my focus and vision back on Him, then my hope comes alive again. God has no trouble picking out a mate for me, even when it seems like there are none to be had!

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Maybe you’ve been struggling with the mountain of singleness as I have — maybe you feel like you’ve missed your prime or you’re too busy raising your kids on your own to find a mate. Let me encourage you in this: Your desire for a mate is not too hard for God. Hold on to hope — not in a spouse, but in a God who gives good gifts. We can trust Him in this, knowing He has our best in mind.

So, on the days you wake up and face your mountain, whatever it may be, take a moment and gain perspective. You serve a God who isn’t bound by difficulty. In a moment He can do a miracle for you like casting that mountain into the sea.

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them” (Mark 11:23).

Send that mountain of singleness into the sea! Demand it take all of its lies and discouragement with it and let them be silenced there. Does it mean you won’t be single anymore and a partner will automatically enter your life? No, although wouldn’t that be nice! It means you won’t be weighed down by it and you’ll be able to wake up and see victory for your day instead of a mountain. You’ll see what God is doing in your life and not what you’re missing.

Don’t let mountains hold you back. Instead, be encouraged and hopeful because of the size, might and ability of our God. My God. Your God — who lives and works in you! My prayer for you is this: May you never feel overcome by mountains …  because you walk with the power of an overcoming God!