No matter your faults there is grace enough to forgive and grace enough to bless.

No matter your weakness there is grace enough to cover and grace enough to aide.

No matter your sins grace is sufficient to forgive and cleanse all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9).

What we deserve and what grace delivers are two separate things—thank God!

There are no happy couples together in marriage because they “deserve each other!” Those who deserve each other are miserable. We don’t “deserve” the blessing of marriage, but he is a gracious God. We will not receive what we “deserve”—THANK GOD!

Because of grace, we can and should hope for a love that is fulfilling but we dare not finish our performance and demand what we deserve from he who is the source of our glory. It is our brokenness and not our perfect performance that he desires. And when that is done we must wait and trust that he is a good God.  He IS a good God.

This should be freeing. Yes! Press towards godliness. Walk in the Spirit! Run after his glory! Hunger and thirst for righteousness and know that he is faithful. His rewards are with him (Isa. 62:11). What we do or do not have is covered under this truth, and we do not pursue him for the things he can give. We pursue him because he is God, because we love him.

The truth is you may have done plenty to “deserve” punishment, but it may not be why you are single. There may be plenty wrong with you, but it may not be why you are single. Our issues may be part of the truth, but it is NOT the WHOLE truth. This means that the “baggage” we all carry hinders but does not determine our state. We must seek spiritual and emotional health but it is to grace we look, in his love we hope. We are all broken vessels—jars of clay in need of repair.

When loneliness rises from a groan to a scream, we must remember who we are. We are the children of a great king before whom the universe quivers. We are not measured by our availability on Friday nights. Our worth is marked out in the majesty of the stellar formations—even they declare his glory. He has touched us to heal us, and we are changed.

Our Lord stands near us as our disappointment rises to a fever pitch calling softly,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

He calls to us telling us that we often toil at work, that is not our work. He says,

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29).

He knows. It is obvious he knows. We are not simply tired of body, but tired of soul. He knows the loneliness has driven us to our knees asking, “What is wrong with me?”