Finally, in Philippians 2:13, we read:  “… for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

This verse is speaking about faith and how we work that out in our lives.  In other words, if you are a believer then how are you living out your faith as a child of God each day?  When you are in Christ and when your heart is open and you are obedient, God is working in you to accomplish what he wants done—whether you’re in your fifties and look and act younger than that or not.  Your age is not an obstacle to him.

So are you watching, waiting and listening to his leading?  Is it possible that he is working in you to lead you toward women who you might have overlooked?  Maybe so.  And perhaps some of the women who are your age and think you are younger are worth a second effort. 

I’m sure some of your experiences are a lot more complicated than I know, so I’m just going on my general impressions from your question.  That being said, perhaps it would be helpful for you to just focus on friendship for a while.  Take the pressure off of yourself.  Don’t think about having to make a dating relationship happen today or tomorrow or even next week.  Just make friends and get to know the women you meet on that kind of level first. 

It might surprise you and you may find there are more options out there than you initially thought.  Plus, spending time together as friends will help everyone to relax and enable others to see you for who you really are. 

When the right woman comes along for you, I’m sure she’ll see that a youthful looking and acting man with age-appropriate wisdom and intelligence is a perfect combination—just as God intended!

 
HE is … Cliff Young, a Crosswalk.com contributing writer and a veteran single of many decades.  He has traveled the world in search of fresh experiences, serving opportunities, and the perfect woman (for him) and has found that his investments in God, career and youth ministry have paid off in priceless dividends.

SHE is … Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com’s Senior Entertainment Editor.  She loves God, her family and and her friends.  Singleness has taught her patience, deepened her walk with the Lord and afforded her countless (who’s counting anyway?) opportunities to whip up an amazing three-course meal for one. 

DISCLAIMER:  We are not trained psychologists or licensed professionals.  We’re just average folk who understand what it’s like to live the solo life in the 21st century.  We believe that the Bible is our go-to guide for answers to all of life’s questions, and it’s where we’ll go for guidance when responding to your questions.  Also, it's important to note that we write our answers separately (we think they sound eerily similar sometimes, too!). 

GOT A QUESTION?  If you’ve got a question about anything related to living the single life, PLEASE SUBMIT HERE (selected questions will be posted anonymously).  While we are unable to answer every inquiry, we do hope that He Said-She Said will be an encouragement to you.

**This column first published on June 18, 2009.