“I’ve tried to be patient, but sometimes the loneliness is so hard. I’ve watched as my friends married and their children came along. I realize now I may never know family life like that, and it hurts.”

Teresa hugged her friend. “I understand. I wrestled a long time with that too. Finally, I asked God to give me whatever life would best serve His purposes for me and to help me be content with His will. Sometimes I still have the ache for a mate, but He has blessed me with an abundance of friendships of all ages and many opportunities to touch lives.”

Being single when marriage is desired can become a consuming disappointment, and it requires a huge step of faith to surrender that desire to God. It means believing that “His way is perfect” (Ps. 18:30) and He “does not withhold the good” (Ps. 84:11) from His children.

In struggling with singleness, you may find help by seeking counsel and wisdom from other women who have been called to singleness either for a season or for a lifetime. Reading the perspective of other singles can also offer insight. Building strong relationships with a variety of age groups is a good way to experience family and community.

Patiently waiting does not require putting life on hold. It means living fully, productively, and remembering the truth that we are the bride of Christ with the ultimate wedding yet to come.