Key Scripture:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Devotional:

For some of you, you may find yourself hopeful that you’ll get married one day. Others of you may feel lonely, forgotten about, rejected and just reading this has your stomach in knots. Maybe you feel called to singleness on this side of heaven, or maybe, just maybe, you’ve been married before and find yourself in yet another unexpected season of singleness. Regardless of where you find yourself, seasons oftentimes remind us that you are not in control – and you never were.

Solomon knew this. The man who had everything that anyone could ever want knew that seasons are oftentimes the means in which God uses to reveal His sovereignty to all of mankind. God is not a mere fortune-teller, but by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together.¹ In His covenantal loving-kindness declared that as long as earth remains, times and seasons will remain.²

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s message is clear: there is a season for everything. A time to be born, a time to die. A time to weep, a time to laugh. A time to mourn, a time to dance.³ There is an appointed time for everything under heaven—even singleness. While you can’t always choose your season, you can choose who you will set your gaze on in the midst of it.

Even Jesus Himself had to choose where and on whom He would set His gaze on in the different seasons of His life. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, was born into this world and took on flesh.⁴ Through mountaintops and valleys, He lived the perfect life that we could not live.⁵ He surrendered to the will of the Father – not as a victim, but a volunteer.⁶ And for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross and defeated sin, death and hell. ⁷

Jesus walked through 30 years of preparation, for three years of a platform, only to find Himself at the cross for three hours of a purpose. Therefore, there is no longer condemnation for those who believe,⁸ but instead an invitation to experience the abundant life that is found in surrendering our lives to Him and trusting in Him completely.

Jesus says that the enemy comes only to steal, kill and destroy, and that in no way excludes the seasons of life that we walk through.⁹ Wouldn’t it be just like our enemy, the devil, to come in and try and steal this season by having you so wrapped up in the next? We know that Jesus came so that we may have life and have it to the full, but oftentimes in seasons of waiting, it’s a whole lot easier to succumb to swipe right culture that is inviting us to take control of our lives instead of yielding to the scriptures that are consistently beckoning us towards trust. 

Control takes. Trust gives.
Control is fragile. Trust is secure.
Control is burdensome. Trust is light.
Control is desperate for self. Trust is desperate for God.
Control wants to fix this season. Trust is thankful for this season.
Control is a means to an end. Trust knows the end and surrenders the means.
Control leads to destruction. Trust leads to an abundant life.

These days, I’m learning that the only thing worse than not pursuing the abundant life that Jesus is offering me in this season, is wishing that I had.

So, wherever you find yourself over these next 21 days, we invite you to loosen your grip on the things of this world. Instead set your gaze on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith, trusting that He is the one who makes everything beautiful in its time.

We’re honored that you’d choose to walk through these coming weeks with us.

Deepening questions:

• If you’re honest, when you hear the word “singleness,” what thoughts and feelings start to well up deep in your soul?
• In this season, where do you find yourself controlling and playing God rather than trusting in the promises of the one true God?

Further reading:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Footnotes:
¹ Colossians 1:16-17 ² Genesis 8:22 ³ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ⁴ John 1:14 ⁵ Romans 3:23-26, 5:6-10 ⁶ Matthew 26:39 ⁷Hebrews 12:1-3 ⁸ Romans 8:1 ⁹ John 10:10

About the Authors:
As for Me and My House Devos for Singles were written by:
Ashley Nunz and Andrew Kurtz

Ashley Nunz
Ashley is a disciple-making-disciple that’s wildly in love with Jesus, people and the local church. She’ll never say no to a cozy coffee shop, a road-trip to the mountains or a last minute flight to the ends of the earth. She currently serves on staff at The Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville, Florida as the Digital Director. 

Andrew Kurtz
Andrew grew up in a small town in Amish country, Pennsylvania, before moving with his family to Raleigh, NC. When he was a teenager, music became a refuge for him and, as he began leading worship he also began to discern a calling on his life to vocational ministry. Now, after ten years of full-time ministry, He gets the opportunity to serve as the worship leader for our Jesup campus. When he is not working in his church role, Andrew enjoys riding horses, writing music and adding miles to his car.