No Husband, No Significant Other, No Prospects in Sight…BUT YOU HAVE JESUS CHRIST!
In Old Testament times, it was not acceptable for a woman to earn her own living. It was not customary for her to call the shots about where she could go, what she could do, and how she could do it. As a child, her father kept a tight rein. Then, when it was time, a marriage would be arranged and her husband would pick up where her father left off. If a woman found herself in the unenviable position of fending for herself, she ran the risk of being labeled a harlot or a prostitute; even if sex was not involved. Inheritances passed from father to son in those days, so a woman who had no husband or son to lean on was in a very tough spot.
This is the position of which Naomi found herself in the Book of Ruth. She became bitter after losing her husband, then later her two sons. They were living in the country of Moab, but childless and a widow, she set out to move back to her hometown of Bethlehem. Initially, Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, left Bethlehem because of the famine in the land. They made a home in Moab, but after the death of her family members, in Naomi’s eyes Moab had become a symbol of tremendous loss.
We can relate, right? You’re in a new place with your husband and family, then tragedy strikes. Everything that you counted on to be safe and sure is snatched from beneath you. All you can think of is trying your best to escape the pain. It’s understandable, but Naomi made a mistake that many of us sometimes make when we take a hit. She forgot the goodness of God. Any time that we forget to be incredibly thankful for God’s goodness, we begin to focus on what we don’t have, start complaining about it, and then bitterness sets in.
We can see this in Ruth 1:20,21 (NLT). It says, “20 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked. 21 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” This gives us a clue regarding Naomi’s mindset at the time.
God turned things around for both Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth. He had a plan all along. What a lesson for those of us that are waiting on the promise of a Godly and loving marital partner. We spend a lot of time complaining and giving ourselves a pity party, but we need to take heart, be encouraged, and know that God has a wonderful plan for us.
No Husband Yet – It’s okay! Trust me, you’d rather wait on the Lord for a sure thing. We all know what it feels like when we want something so bad, that we’d do just about anything to get it. Rushing is a big no-no. You don’t want to skip a beat when it comes to preparing God’s way. God has set this thing up, and when we’re ready in our minds and hearts to partner, marriage is eminent.
No Significant Other – This is only a temporary part of being single. You’re in the weeding out process–getting all the unnecessary baggage out of your life so you can focus on your relationship with God. Now’s the time to let heaven and everything beneath it really see that you’re prioritizing Heavenly Father in the number one spot. Go out of your way to prove your commitment to God; then committing to a significant other will fall right in line.
No Prospects in Sight – Listen, prospects can be very distracting. We have to be prayerful and wise about our time. Ephesians 5:16 tells us to make the most of our time, to redeem it wisely because the days are evil. It is important for us to study God’s Word and learn as much as we can about the Lord Jesus Christ, because this is how we learn our true identities. 1 John 4:13-16 (MSG) tells us, “This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.”
Ask yourself, have you truly embraced God’s love heart and soul? If you have, no husband; no significant other; no prospects in sight–this will not upset you in the least, because you’re confident that Christ is the head of your life, and he will bring the right man across your path at the right time. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“No Pity Party Here!!!”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2017. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.