when you feel forgotten in the single journey

“The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.”

-Isaiah 49:14-

It seems like it goes in waves... the times where I feel forgotten in this single journey. While I deeply rejoice with all that God is doing in others lives and for the love stories that are abounding, it can be easy to feel forgotten when our prayers seemingly fall on deaf ears. Those of us that have been praying for years, or even decades for our love stories to happen can start to feel that God has forgotten us in this single journey.

 On the most difficult days in this journey I cry out with the psalmist, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Far from my deliverance, are the words of my groaning.” (Psalm 22:1) In my grief I cry out, “The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.” (Isaiah 49:14) 

But the beautiful thing is that when we feel this way... forgotten and forsaken and kept from our dreams the Lord quietly and lovingly answers us. He says to our hurting hearts: 

 “I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

-Isaiah 41:9-10-

 He reminds us that we are worth more than the sparrows that He takes care of. 

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

-Luke 12:6-7- 

There is no doubt that our feelings may tell us that we have been forgotten by the Lord, but the truth is that we are not forgotten and we are not forsaken. The Lord is tenderly weaving our stories in intricate and beautiful ways. I don't know why we sometimes have to wait for the thing that we desire to come true. I don't know why the love story that you are longing for takes so long. But I do know that the Lord's timing is perfect. As one of my favorite authors says, "God's timing is flawless." I love that... God's timing is flawless friends. 

Hold on to that beautiful hope today... resting secure in the fact that the Lord is at work right now crafting your story. 

You are not forgotten. 

You are not forsaken. 

God's timing is flawless.

Struggling in feeling forgotten in the Single Journey? Here are a few things that helps me on days where I struggle with this:

1. Cry out to God. 

Just like David did and many others throughout the Bible (including Hannah) cry out to Him. He promises to answer us. He promises that the hopes of the needy people will not be forgotten. (Psalm 9:18)

2. Talk with Trusted Friends

Talk and share with a trusted friend. I am so blessed by several friends who consistently love and listen to my heart in this area and also for all of their prayers for me and for my future hubby and our future family. They encourage, they speak hope when I feel none, and they courageously step into a broken hearted woman's most vulnerable place. Talking and crying with trusted friends can be a beautiful blessing when you are hurting. I shared in a post many years ago the six types of friends that every christian single gal needs in her life (you can find it HERE) and these are the trusted friends you want to pour out your heart to. They are the praying, truth-telling, loving and listening friends who will cry and weep with you while gently reminding you that God's timing is flawless.

3. Remember All that God has Done in the Past

There is something so beautiful about remembering all that God has done for us in the past isn't there? I shared before about the beautiful hope that is found in history. When I was teaching I had a verse at the front of my classroom that read, "those who are wise will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord" which comes from the Psalms. There is a power and a beautiful encouragement to remembering the past. We can see how faithfully the Lord has taken care of us, met all of our needs, and gently carried and loved us. We can also see how He has miraculously answered us... gently reminding us that He will do so again.

Today friends I am praying for you... praying that you gently are reminded that you are not forgotten in this journey and that God's timing is flawless. 

(PS- If you are looking for encouragement in the single season of life you can find all of the posts that I have written on the topic of singleness HERE!)