While singleness can be a joy because of your freedom, your flexibility, and your ability to be available to God, it can also be an overwhelming and tough time in your life. You might find yourself wondering what God is doing through the tough circumstances you experience as a single person. In this post, Paula Hendricks shares some of her experiences as she looked for God's hand in her life during her season of being single.

"God, What Are You Doing?" by Paula Hendricks

I bet it wouldn't take long for you to identify the circumstance in your life that “just naturally doesn’t call for gratitude!” We all have them.

For a while now, my tough circumstance has been singleness. Oh, I know God says it’s a gift, but it often feels—in Carolyn McCulley’s words—more like “solitary confinement.”

You, on the other hand, might dream of the freedom singleness would bring. Maybe your tough circumstance is more like one of my friends:

• Nikki, who is hectically trying to care for her family on a very low income
• Briana, who is exhausted after homeschooling her uncooperative, autistic son each day
• Sasha, whose husband is divorcing her after several “disastrous” years of marriage

Whatever your tough circumstance, would you grab a pen and paper, and ask God what He’s doing through your tough circumstance?

Here’s what I came up with:

God, what are you doing through my singleness?

1. I’m teaching you to trust and rest in Me, the “Blessed Controller of Your life,” rather than striving and manipulating circumstances to try to make yourself happy (1 Tim. 6:15).
   
   
2. I’m freeing you from your idolatry like you asked Me to, so you can satisfy your thirst anytime in Me, the Fountain of Living Waters, rather than scraping for water at the bottom of broken cisterns (Jer. 2:12–13).
   
   
3. I’m allowing you to go through this painful season so you will have compassion—and comfort—to offer others, so your "life message” that “God is more than enough!” will give hope and courage to those who desperately need it (2 Cor. 1:3–5).
   
   
4. I’m writing your story so people will know it was all Me—all My power, all My grace—and not your looks, smarts, or talents (Ps. 46:10).

And I’m sure this is just the beginning. Now it’s your turn. What do you think God might be up to in your tough circumstance?

Pray:
Jesus, I pray that You will help me keep my eyes on You because You can fill every need I have. Help me see what You're doing in this season and grow closer to You.

Reflect:
Do I ever let my singleness lead me into a place where I focus more on the tough circumstances that what God might be trying to teach me through them?

Respond:
Take a few minutes to write down some of the ways that you can see God moving through your current, tough circumstances.

Singleness can be tough, and it can lead you to have an overload of emotions. When those emotions overwhelm you, remember that this is a season, not a life sentence. Continue to look for ways that God is moving in your heart during this season. Look for the things He's trying to teach you so you can grow closer to Him. The next post will explore what it means to wait on God and will help you avoid making some common mistakes.