For many years I lived to meet expectations. The lines became blurred between my and other’s desires and God’s hope for me. I grew up in church. I grew up in a believing home. I was a church ministry kid, I guess I still am. My parents have been involved in serving the church for years in multiple capacities that have shifted with the seasons and personal growth. My own serving and participation has ebbed and flowed as well. I have a tender place in my heart for church. It is a unique relationship. Us. Others. Jesus. It can also be a paralyzing relationship as Jesus becomes less and other personal tweets and viewpoints become louder than the Truth that set me free.
Self-discovery. It is used in relation to singleness a lot
and it is a great season to spend on yourself, because you do not have someone
else you are having to think about. But rarely is that true. I have friends and
family I care about deeply. I have expectations flying all around me. I am not
alone or without responsibility. Having people and responsibility in your life does not make self-discovery an “impossible” pursuit.
Personal growth and understanding who you are is a life long
journey, because we are continually growing and being transformed through
Christ. While singleness is a great season to really dive into your faith for
yourself and figure out your likes and dislikes, learning about yourself does
not start and stop here. It keeps going. And knowing yourself and God better
does not mean you are going to have an easier time in a relationship or even
marriage. Life is hard and you are going to continue to grow in your faith and
yourself as every year goes by with or without a partner by your side.
Knowing what you believe, like, love, and dislike in life is
not a journey to go on for the benefit of others, but for yourself. Cutting through
the expectations and thoughts of others helps us to figure out where we stand
on issues and personal preferences in life. Hopefully you have friends and
family in your life who celebrate all the unique ways you are you; who do not
fight against your taste in food, bands, books, and where you are in your
faith, but encourage you to keep going and being you.
Self-discovery and knowing what you truly believe, like, and
dislike is a forever journey that just happens to correspond with the “start”
of singleness, because of age. But, there is no right or wrong time to start
diving in and asking yourself what you truly believe versus what you have
accepted because you do not want to offend your friends or to fit in a mold.
Keep getting to know yourself, wherever you are on your
journey. Keep trying new things and considering faith and life for yourself;
that is how you will grow and continue to be you in all the wonderful ways God
made you; in all the twists and turns of your journey.
I think of the Proverbs 31 woman in all her varied interests
and loves in her life. She was multifaceted, complex in her unique God design.
So are you. Lets find out more about ourselves for the sake of embracing
ourselves instead of for someone else.
Let’s dig into our faith to know God more, for the sake of
our relationship with Him, instead of for the sake of getting something or
someone in return.
Singleness is a great place in life to start diving in to
who you are and what you believe, but it should never stop when you get some
bling bling.
- Hannah
No comments:
Post a Comment