Hey BLISS fam! I pray that you are well in this season despite what we are seeing on the news about the coronavirus aka the COVID-19 pandemic that has put the world on edge. After several weeks and many days that seem to just run together at this point, some of us may be weary and frustrated with the order to remain at home, or disillusioned with the timeline of us being able to “get back to normal,” whatever that’s supposed to be like.
There are two larger topics related to all of this that I wanted to discuss on what this season of having to stay at home or in quarantine means for singles.
Same season, different perspectives
This is an uncomfortable time for most of us. This is one of those events that affects the whole world, and we are all living through it? That’s pretty deep if you ask me. We will all be able to relate in some way to the pandemic, but the reality is that we will experience this season in different ways. For some, this is a very trying time, for others they are thriving like never before. Some are finding purpose in this time, and others are being humbled.
This reminds me of the single season or the journey of singleness. At times, we can have some things in common with others, but the truth is that we will all have to go through our own journeys to get through it all. For some of us that will lead to marriage, and for others it will lead to a satisfying contentment in singleness. We may all be in this together, but when we come out of this, our outputs will be different. What is God doing in you in this season? I’m praying more than ever. If anything, I feel like I could be doing more work on my outside projects, so I can never say I’m bored. But there are other singles who are grappling with loneliness, who have no friends or family in close proximity to them, and those who are taking advantage of this time to connect with others like never before.
This is all a reminder that what perspective we approach our seasons with is what we will get out of it. If you choose to complain, you will find reasons to complain. If you see it as opportunity, you will look out for chances to make the most out of the time you’re given. For us all, we can see this season as a setback which turned out to be a setup for a comeback. I learned that in high school and it hasn’t left me all these years. How will you choose to see the rest of this season? How will you approach the next season? How does your perspective affect your outlook on your singleness? Selah.
Read more: 3 things my unemployment showed me about waiting for marriage
God is revealing to us our humanity
It took something so massive as this outbreak of the coronavirus to get human beings to really stop and look at their humanity. Have we been arrogant for so long that we thought we could do this thing called life without the Life Giver? This season of quarantine reminded me just how fragile humans are physically and emotionally. We can front all we want to, but we truly do need each other and we especially need God in these times.
As much as we find ourselves complaining about jobs we prayed for, we finally got that chance to work from home or take a break. We’re getting realities of people who are married or who have kids at home and how life can get so not-so-Instagram-perfect with them. We have realized more than ever that the most essential jobs right now were the ones we overlooked and took for granted.
Applying the life lesson that we should pray about the things we are willing to complain about, I’m encouraging you to let God change your confession in this season. Are the circumstances around you have you doubtful about things getting better? Speak victory and hope instead. Are you questioning how you will meet someone to potentially date once this quarantine is lifted? Shift your perspective and open your mind to God’s possibilities. People are connecting in new ways than ever before—I can truly testify about that. There are plenty of single believers online who are finding friendship and connection in like-minded communities; plug into the right one for you.
This is the time to become humbly undone before God. Surrender your fears, anxieties, frustrations and trade it for His peace and joy in the midst of all of this. Allow God to change your confession or declaration to one of praise: “Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.” Hebrews 13:15 AMP
