Me: “Sir, for one, it’s on the wrong hand, and, two…we had this same…conversation…last week. Nothing’s changed.”
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When I tell people about the OYC, the banner that waves is usually taken for SINGLENESS—which isn’t bad, but it’s just that the scope is so much wider than that.
This challenge has given me so much more than just a contentment with being single. It’s given me confidence.
Confidence in Christ. Confidence in the Holy Spirit. Confidence in God. Confidence in myself.
Knowing Christ gave His life for me. Because He loves me.
Knowing the Holy Spirit is with me, guiding me. Present in every moment, every decision.
Knowing God loves me enough to bear both the burdens and the blessings He gives.
Knowing I’m loved and saved and my life is for the glory of God, and it is not worthless, but full of worth.
I trust Him because He loves me. I love Him, not just because He loves me, but how He loves me.
My best friend said, “If you do this One Year Challenge as a task—as a list to check off—don’t do it, because inevitably you’ll fail.”
And she’s right. It takes effort. A lot of effort. I have never more consciously, conscientiously, and consistently prayed about and paid attention to my actions and words.
But it’s all worth it.
Biting your tongue in love. Walking away in love. Sacrificing in love. Humbling yourself in love.
What this OYC is, isn’t just an adjustment. It’s training. And if you are not ready or able to train yourself to be better, do not commit.
I’m only at month 9.75 and I have learned and developed so much. I wouldn’t trade this experience for a husband—which is something, 9 months ago, I would have never said. And I get to talk with, minister to, and advise single women who come into my life about this, and that is in itself a blessing. To see where I once stood, to walk through the same pain and doubt, to do my best to tell them that joy in life is not from the having or unhaving of a husband.
There are far too many blessings of which to be thankful to God, and a far more many things to which we can commit should our singleness be our ultimate servitude to Christ.
I’m living proof that being single and loving God doesn’t kill you.
But it will make you stronger, if you are willing and obedient to follow God down either path.
