The Scary Single Cycle

"Sing, O barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,"
says the LORD.
"Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.
Isaiah 54:1-3

  As singles, we struggle so much with feeling forgotten. No matter how hard we try, we can't seem to stop what I call the "Single Cycle!" Sometimes, you are right on top! You are content in your singleness, hanging out with friends, staying out late, having fun, serving, and feeling close to God. Life is good! Until, something happens... you start to slide... You start to feel yourself thriving on that oh, so addictive attention from that oh, so addictive opposite sex! (Whichever your opposite may be...) Then, you notice someone else getting a little more attention than you. You aren't liking what you see in the mirror that day. You look around and notice you are the only one sitting in Starbuck who isn't "coupled up." (The case for me tonight) Or, you just start believing the many lies that the enemy throws at us everyday! You're not beautiful. You aren't worth it. No one wants you. He would never think you were attractive. She's just going to say "no," so dont even bother asking her out. It's safer to be passive. So then, we hit the bottom of the cycle... Hardcore case of the "Single Blues!"
How do we start to make our way back up? How... oh how... do we get back to that wonderful state of contentment and clarity? Simple... get the lies out. How do you get the lies out? You put the truth in! This passage is the exact opposite of what the enemy feeds us. God says we are even more blessed than those who are married! Wow! He tells us to shout for joy! And he promises that our blessings will be so abundant that we won't have room to store them all! Verses 2 &; 3 make me think that He is also telling us to think bigger! Look beyond what is right infront of us; try to see the whole picture. It's about His vision, not our's. HIS vision, NOT our's! How do we change our vision? We don't. He does. But, we have to turn our hearts toward him, lay down the lies, pick up the Word, and ask Him to change us. And guess what? He ALWAYS does.
   Lord, help us to not spiral down that scary "Single Cycle." Thank you for your truth. Thank you for not forgetting us. Beckon us back to you. Give us a love for your word. And change our vision.