Valentine’s Day is a day much of the world considers “the most romantic day of the year.” On this day, couples express their affection through cards, candy and flowers which remind them of their love for one another. Yet for those of us who are still waiting for that special someone, February 14 can be a bittersweet reminder of our singleness — unless we learn to wait well. Having the right perspective makes all the difference.
We can develop this perspective by learning from some of the biggest names in Scripture who experienced a period of singleness before finding a spouse. People like Isaac, Ruth and Adam each had unique experiences in singleness which provide helpful insight.
Isaac: God Works as We Wait (Genesis 24)
As a single man of 40 years old, Isaac had no marriage prospects in sight — and he wasn’t looking, until . . . .
One day, his father, Abraham asked a servant to assist him in finding a wife for Isaac. The servant prayed for guidance, and, through a series of divinely directed events, met Rebekah. Remarkably, the young woman agreed to become Isaac’s wife, and they were married. Stunned by God’s answer to his prayer, the servant became a believer himself.
When God directs our story, we don’t need to influence the outcome. He moves the characters in the right way and at the right time so His purpose is accomplished. He is always working in our lives, even when we are unaware. While we are waiting, He is busy preparing us and the person He has for us. His purpose for our story is ultimately His glory — and this includes the positive impact our story will have on others.
Ruth: Wait and Serve (Ruth 1–4)
Ruth had fallen on hard times in the land of Moab (currently Jordan). Death had visited her, her sister-in-law and mother-in-law, claiming the lives of each of their husbands. Overcome with grief because of these losses, Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi decided to return to her hometown of Bethlehem in Israel. Although Bethlehem offered little hope of a better life for Ruth, she chose to follow and care for Naomi.
Through a series of events, Ruth met and eventually married a farmer named Boaz. From this story that began with sadness, God brought joy which ended with Ruth becoming a part of the family line of King David and Jesus.
Perhaps after unexpected turns in your relationship, you are feeling hopelessness or discouragement. Know that in the middle of your circumstances, God is still working in the background. Your pain is a unique opportunity to serve others. As you give of yourself, God will give favor with the right people, at the right time and in the right place.
Adam: God Prepares and Provides, Even When We Are Unaware (Genesis 2:15–25)
After God created Adam, He gave him a responsibility to care for the Garden of Eden and to name the animals. Each creature had a mate which perfectly complemented it, but Adam had no counterpart of his own. That was when, for the very first time, God said something was not good. Adam needed companionship, so God created a helpmate for him. He then presented her to Adam and she became his wife.
God knows our needs and desires before we even express them. He knows what is best for us. With our best interests at heart, He always gives us what we need, when we need it most. Therefore, we can put our ultimate hope for a relationship in Him.
If we want to have the right perspective while we wait for a mate, the insights from these biblical characters can help us. God is the ultimate Author of love stories. We can trust His timing, knowing He is working behind the scenes to carry out His perfect plan for us — and through us for others. We can trust His ability to repurpose our relational disappointments so we can serve others, knowing He has not forgotten us. We can trust His sovereignty over the details of our relationships to bring about outcomes far better than we can imagine. We can trust His knowledge of our needs and His power to supply them. We can wait well, because we trust in a God who does all things well.
Article by Cam Edwards
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