Valentines Day Convictions

During my years of college, I joyfully spent every Valentines Day without a "Valentine." By the grace of God, I truly was joyful and never was sad or upset about my singleness. Truth be known, it was probably because the majority of my closest friends were also single. 

For the past few years my house has hosted a "Celebrate Your Singleness" party, which was always so much fun. In a blog about our first party I said, "Also.... how awesome to be able to celebrate love without being in a relationship! This Valentines Day was extra special... I spent it celebrating this amazing season of life of singleness God has blessed us with, with some GREAT VALENTINES!!"

Throughout the past four years, I have posted many blogs about being content in singleness. If I could pick a platform, that definitely would be mine. I have met with girl after girl to talk about how God has allowed me to be content in him in the absence of a relationship. I know without a doubt that that has been the greatest blessing of singleness - knowing HIS love was enough. Something that I once struggled with, and was rescued from. 

This Valentines Day I am in a relationship (WITH THE GREATEST GUY IN THE WORLD). Ironically, I am also in Africa... half a world away from him. I will once again spend Valentines Day "alone" and this time without a house full of single folks that I love so much. 

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Now, I humbly say that I may have been slightly prideful about my contentment in the Lord in the midst of singleness. I talked about it so much as if I had accomplished some huge task. Truth is, why did I think it was an accomplishment? Who else was I going to find my contentment in? I was single. 

This Valentines Day, I have a new conviction.  This Valentines Day, it will be a lot harder to find my contentment in the Lord. I will wish I was in America. I will wish I was with my Valentine. I will fight with myself to not have a pity party. 

All this to say... God has taught me a beautiful truth recently. Finding contentment in the Lord is not something that you do while single. It is something you must choose to do daily, every day of your life whether you are in a relationship, not in a relationship, married, or unmarried. No matter the status, you must choose contentment in God and in God alone (something much harder to do when there is a Valentine in the picture).

Single ladies/men: As you spend your Valentines Day single, rest in the love of your Lord. Treat this season of life as a blessing. Learn to find contentment in God alone, so that when you are in a relationship, you are able to remember God is your source of contentment... not the one you love.

For everyone else, enjoy your Valentines Day with your special someone. Praise God for placing them in your life, and remember: your contentment comes from the Lord, not from that special someone. 

xoxo, 

Jordan

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." -Psalms 73:26

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1

That famous question: "are you dating anyone?"

This week I returned home from college for the summer and have seen all the faces I have been missing for the past several months. I have ran into old classmates, teachers, friends, family, and mentors. Although "how is school" is a very typical question asked of me, a more common question is "are you dating anyone?" ........... the answer of course being "no" then followed by another question.... either "why" or "isn't there some good boys in Raleigh?"

 On top of this question being asked of me 1,234954 times I also work in a bridal boutique 8 hours a day where weddings consume my every thought. As if weddings were not on my mind enough I have spend the majority of my time out side of work  planning, celebrating, and working on events related to a wedding I will be in next weekend.(side note: for the baccalaureate party we went salsa dancing.. SO FUN) ....WEDDINGS, MARRIAGE...... these words/thoughts have consumed my life lately.

Well, the story goes like this.... people don't understand it but I am completely continent single. Though I want so bad to meet that Godly man that I will one day join together with, I don't know him (or at least don't think I do), and am content in knowing God's time is perfect.

Often when expressing my singleness I am criticized and told my standards are "too high" and that I need to be more open or excepting. My standards are very high, but in a very healthy way. God commanded me (and you if you were wondering) to be equally yoked and that is what I plan on doing. I will be single the entirety of my life if that is what it means to follow this commandment.

My brother also asked me this oh so famous question saying, "when are you getting married Jordan?" I responded telling him, "when i find a man who loves me and loves Jesus." He said, "well Daddy loves Jesus." Yes my Dad does love Jesus! I can't marry him, but he has been a great example of what a God fearing man should be. He has set my standards high.

My brother Trent also has plans of when I will get married. In his kindergarten class two little kids were talking about how they were boyfriend and girlfriend and were going to get married. Trent responded to there conversation saying, "MARRIED?, why are you talking about married? ..... that is what you do when you graduate from NC State!"

Though Trent thinks he has it figured out, I really don't know when that time will be, I don't know when my answer to that famous question will be yes, and I don't know when God will lead that Godly man to me. What I do know is that I have a God who comforts and directs my path. I have a God who has a perfect plan. And I have a God who's love is enough for me... without the love from anyone else. I pray that each of you can share this view with me and enjoy your waiting just as I am.

"But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it." -Romans 8:25

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” - Romans 8:28