Is It Really Worth It?

My encouragement this morning goes out to that single lady who feels all alone because of life's pressure to go the other way. You have fought so hard to keep yourself pure and acceptable to the Master, you've denied yourself countless pleasures all in the bid to please God, to you, you have even lost a couple of opportunities to get married because you wanted to do it right. Age isn't on your side and to cap it all, people are beginning to use you for a by-word. And you're asking yourself, "is it really worth it?"; your friends who also claim to be born again but compromise here and there are all settled in their homes, but you watch yourself gradually slip from that young attractive lady to a mature, old looking one, and you ask still, "is it really worth it?"; because you refused sexual advances from one of your directors, your promotion has been denied 3 consecutive times, and before your very eyes, your subordinates have risen above you, and you ask, "is it really worth it?". Seeing everyone doing it, you've struggled with the urge to compromise and in all instances have been victorious, yet, you feel the emptiness inside and you continue to ask if God truly loves you, why does He not see your pains and come to your rescue, why does He still allow you to remain single.

Sweetheart, you are brave, I commend your courage and strength. I want you to know that the fact that you made it to this point isn't your making, God's strength saw you this far and He will yet uphold you. Through the temptations, He's been with you, 1Cor.10:13 says that "but will with the temptation also make a way to escape." That you did not compromise, it was God who made a way of escape for you, that you did not sleep with your boss, it was the Lord who made a way of escape for you, that you upheld the banner of righteousness into courtship and for that lost your supposed fiancé, it was God who provided a way of escape.

Don't loose heart because God is using these temptations to mature your character to be just like Jesus, 2Cor.4:16 says "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." The grace that has been sufficient for you in all of these situations will yet be sufficient to keep you through every waiting and trying times of your life.

The temptations are also a humbling process for you, the image of Christ is being produced in you, you possess His mind, you love more and become less judgmental of others when they fall into temptation. This is God's desire for you.

There's a reward for every temptation you overcome, its like writing a test for promotion, the temptations have now become a stepping stone for you, you get elevated each time you pass, you may not see it because your vision is beclouded by the fact that the one need you feel is the most important has not been met. God knows and loves you more than you love yourself, His best is yet to come. You are not alone in this, there are other singles who are in the same situation as you are and have remained firm and unshakable. God's glory is being manifested through their lives on a regular basis because they don't see their being single as a plague but as a one in a lifetime opportunity to be the best they can be for their maker. Henceforth, my love, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptation, because patience is produced and ultimately you are made perfect and complete in all areas of your life (Jm 1:2).