Have you ever felt as though the whole world revolves around married people? I know I have. Sometimes the devil may try to make you feel as if you're less of a person because you don't have a mate. He'll try to make you feel inferior, as if you've been put on a shelf and forgotten.

Discouragement comes knocking on everyone's door at one time or another, and it seems as if that's especially true with singles. But don't be discouraged; God has not forgotten you! The Bible tells us that He's always working on His plan for your life.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
(Phil. 1:6)

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
(1 Thess. 5:24 NASB)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.
(Rom. 8:28)

God knows how you're feeling and what it's like to be lonely at times. Just hang in there because His Word is working, and His best is yet to come in your life!

Make God Your Source
It's important to always remember that true joy comes from God alone and not just from being married.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
(1 John 4:4)

When we are aware of who lives on the inside of us, we can banish discouragement about being single. I want to encourage you to make God your source. He wants to be your total Source of joy and security.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps. 27:1).

We must continually remind ourselves that our security and confidence come from who we are in Christ, not in what we do or even to whom we're married. We must focus on becoming secure in God, because if we're insecure and we end up with someone who's insecure, we just end up with two insecure people married to each other!

There are a lot of single people who think that being married is the answer to all their problems, but it isn't. We all probably know married people who could testify to that fact.

I always say this: I'd rather be single and happy, than married to the wrong one and be miserable! I've known people who became overly anxious about getting married and just settled for less that God's best.

Purpose in your heart not to settle for second best, but wait for God's best no matter how long it takes.

There were many great people throughout history who were single. Jesus was single! As far as we know, the apostle Paul was single, and Daniel was single. There have been a lot of great men and women of faith who weren't married and served the Lord with excellence.

Whether you want to be married or not, you can still serve the Lord with excellence right where you are by seeking Him first and putting your faith in Him.

Source: Single and Loving It by Kate McVeigh
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers