Are you 20-30 years old? Are you single? Are you watching your friends get married, pop out babies, and be hired to their dream jobs? Are you wondering what you are doing wrong and listening to dozens of podcasts to try to find the answer?
The answer is: no one has all the answers, because no one has it all together.
There, I said it.
You can read all the self-help books, listen to all the podcasts, and try to learn from older people's stories (and wisdom does help), but no one person will have the same, exact, cookie-cutter road map for you. Everyone travels a different road. There are similar paths to take and navigation tips are helpful, but at the end of the day, no one knows when a road block is coming and chances are the challenge will be different. Does that make sense? I recently found myself trying to figure out how to "date." I listened to hours of podcasts, heard a million different stories of how to "date" well, and testimonies of victory and defeat. And guess what? Every story I heard was different. People will try to tell you that there is only one way to do things, but that is simply not true. The church culture talks a lot about the importance of marriage, but Paul, in the Bible, talks a lot about the benefits of singleness. Some say patience was key to approaching their successful relationship, and others say it was boldness. Some say, "You'll just know when it's right." Others like Ben Stuart, author of "Single, Dating, Engaged, Married," said he took a whole summer break from dating his future wife to process his feelings and realize that he missed her.
The truth is: if God is in it, then it is right.
When we start comparing our story to the person next to us, we can quickly feel insecure about where we find ourselves. But comparing our story to theirs is like comparing the ETA's to completely different and unknown destinations. Take comfort that God knows the desires in your heart, because He created it and put those desires there. Take comfort that God knows and has you exactly where you need to be. Take comfort that God will lead you to the next place at exactly the right time. Take comfort that God has the map, knows the perfect route, and will reveal His unique purpose and plan for your life with care because He cares for you and He is good.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. " (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV)
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)
"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8 NIV)