TEN DAYS OF WAITING DAY 8

Single, & Salty About It!

Ps. Ellis Newman

It was a crisp winter evening in Kentucky. The sun had set about three hours earlier and the ground was white with a blanket snow. Little flurries of crystal fell, as my shoes crunched beneath my feet and my breath left a trail of steam as I plodded down my path. I was talking to Jesus. I was having a serious discussion about serving in ministry while wrestling with my own desires to be in a relationship. I wanted to be married, but that wasn’t even a possibility since I wasn’t even dating at the time. And the frustration was billowing out of my mouth as I was making sure Jesus knew I was quite displeased with His lack of His assistance on this matter. I was being faithful as I knew how to the ministry and calling He had given me, but there was no one to share it with, or to come home to at night. And then there were the blind dates, ugh! One can’t expect to swim if you don’t get in the water, so with each new move I would jump in the pond of possibilities with each new ministry that God would call me to serve.

It seemed there was always a daughter, or granddaughter, or friend of the family that someone knew I just had to meet, so I would agree to the encounter. Then after the date there was the awkward, “Well I enjoyed meeting you,” conversation that ended with “thanks for having dinner with me.” I wasn’t sure if my expectations were too high or if I was just impossible to please, but after years of disappointments, another date just didn’t sound that interesting. So I was, walk and fussing at Jesus with tears frozen on my cheeks because I was pretty convince His plans and my hormones were not on the same page. And since I was the only one making any noise in the neighborhood, I was sure there had to be some people wondering why this guy was walking around and talking out loud to himself! But I didn’t care… something had to give… I had been waiting and waiting… but I was still alone. And then amidst the tears and frustration this thought of surrender surfaced. Would I be willing to be single? If God called me to a life of
singleness, would I be willing to stay that way?

I believe God gives all of us life verses, but they are not always verses we want to hear.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall make your path straight.