City Life Starter

I. The Word: Psalm 27:14 (Amplified)

Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.

II. Study Questions

1. How do you feel about waiting? Is it something you enjoy or despise or don’t even think about?

2. For those who are married, what did you enjoy most about being single?

3. For those who are single, in what ways can you completely commit to God in this season?

Singleness–this is something I’m all too familiar with, but I’m continually learning more about it–both from personal experience and from what the Bible says.

One of the biggest mistakes I think singles make (myself included) is viewing our singleness as a time of waiting for something to happen instead of seizing the opportunity to live for God right now.

Today’s verse tells us to “wait for and confidently expect the Lord.” This verse actually says it twice. Since we know all of the words in the Bible are there for a reason, we can infer the Lord wanted to emphasize the importance of waiting. But why? Why is waiting so difficult?

Part of what makes waiting so hard is that it’s often viewed as a passive process. Although the word “waiting” seems passive on the surface, it can actually be a very active process.

I’ve heard an illustration in which the word “waiting” was used to describe how a waiter waits on tables at a restaurant. If you’ve been a waiter before or have ever observed a waiter at a restaurant, it’s clear waiting is not at all passive. Waiters are actively looking to see what people need, whether their beverages need to be refilled, and if everything’s ok with the order.

Waiting in that sense requires looking, listening, and being attentive. The same can be said of waiting on the Lord. Waiting on the Lord does not mean you’re not doing anything about the promise you believe for. You’re seeking Him in prayer and asking His guidance regarding your future spouse. While waiting on the Lord, you are also serving Him, seeking first His Kingdom, and allowing Him to meet all your needs.

I’m sure some of you may be thinking you had total autonomy when it comes to whom you marry. That is true in that God will never force you to marry anyone, but we must also consider Proverbs 19:14: “Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife.”

It only makes sense that God would be actively involved in providing our spouses because He’s been doing that from the very beginning with Adam and Eve:

“So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:21-22 NLT).

We see from the above scripture that God caused Adam to sleep while He formed Eve.

I think another reason why singles may experience difficulty waiting on God for marriage is that we tend to awaken love before the time is right. In Song of Solomon, the young woman urges: “Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.” (Song of Solomon 8:4 NLT).

If you are currently single, please don’t overlook the joy and simplicity unique to singleness that you can only enjoy in this season. I believe there’s a purpose for singleness. Instead of it being a drag, it can be a time of consecration and devotion to God.

We’re not waiting in the world’s way. We’re waiting for His Word’s way: in confident expectation and hope.

Prayer for Singles

Lord, thank you for preserving me for such a time as this. Help me to stay the course You have set before me. I want you to write my love story. I trust You and give you my all. You are my all in all. In Jesus Name, Amen.