Stop Waiting for the Next Thing! There Are Things to Enjoy Right Now

My sister-friend reached out about a last-minute cruise that was sailing in less than two weeks. “They have balcony suites for $300. You wanna go?”

My answer was a resounding yes!

Then there was the time I was feeling burned out. My cousin decided to go to an all-inclusive resort with his wife and asked if my sis and I wanted to tag along.

Are you kidding? I said yes!

Then on one morning, I overslept. I looked at my schedule and saw I didn’t start until 11. So I snoozed my alarm. Twice.

Another time, I had a couple of last-minute, same day cancellations. Rather than finishing at 5 PM, I finished at 2 PM. It suddenly dawned on me that I had options.

I could choose to go straight home. Or I could head to the beach.

In all of these situations, it was easy for me to say yes to what I wanted.

Why?

Because as of now, I’m not married, and I don’t have kids.

Notice I,

• Didn’t need to call a family meeting.
• Didn’t need to coordinate school calendars, nap schedules, extracurriculars, or anyone else’s PTO.
• Didn’t have tiny humans depending on me to get them dressed, fed, packed, and dropped off somewhere on time.
• Didn’t have to wake up in a panic because someone else’s entire morning was attached to mine.

I just had to look at my own life, my own schedule, my own responsibilities, and decide what to do next.

Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t desire marriage. That doesn’t mean I don’t value family. That doesn’t mean I think singleness is better than marriage or that motherhood isn’t beautiful.

It simply means that while I am still praying for marriage and a family, I’ve learned that there are blessings in this season too. It’s just that sometimes, you have to stop long enough to notice them.

The Truth

There are things you get to enjoy right now as a single woman that won’t be as easy in another season.

You can book the trip, sleep in, stay out a little later.

You can accept a last-minute invitation, move to a new city, change careers, go back to school.

You can take a spontaneous day trip, or spend time with God without someone interrupting you every five minutes asking for a snack.

You can make dinner or not make dinner. You can spend your evening journaling, reading, walking, resting, worshipping, watching a movie, or sitting in silence.

You can say yes without having to check with a spouse, or you can say no without having to explain how it affects an entire household.

No, your life may not be perfect right now. You may still have responsibilities, bills, aging parents, demanding work, ministry obligations, health concerns, emotional burdens, and real disappointments.

But that doesn’t erase the blessings you do have.

Shift Your Focus

The problem is, sometimes you can become so focused on the blessing you want next that you overlook the blessing God has placed right in front of you.

Sometimes you can become so focused on the blessing you want next that you overlook the blessing God has placed right in front of you. #forsinglewomenonly Share on X

And maybe you’re thinking, “Forget that!”“I’m tired of going on vacation alone or with my girls!”

“I

want

a man!”

Listen, I get it!!!

There is nothing wrong with you desiring marriage. There is nothing wrong with wanting children. There is nothing wrong with longing for companionship, partnership, and family life.

But here’s the loving truth: if you don’t learn how to appreciate the season you’re in now, you’ll carry that same restless mentality into the next season.

Once you’re married, you’ll find something else to be tired of.

You may say, “I’m tired of having to consider him.”

• “I’m tired of cooking for two.”
• “I’m tired of sharing my space.”
• “I’m tired of compromising.”
• “I’m tired of his family.”
• “I’m tired of not being able to just pick up and go like I used to.”

Then, if God blesses you with children, you may find something else to be tired of.

• “I’m tired of never sleeping.”
• “I’m tired of school drop-offs.”
• “I’m tired of packing lunches.”
• “I’m tired of finding babysitters.”
• “I’m tired of not having time to myself.”
• “I’m tired of everyone needing me.”

If you don’t learn how to appreciate the season you’re in now, you’ll carry that same restless mentality into the next season. #forsinglewomenonly Share on X

And before you know it, your whole life becomes a series of waiting rooms.

Waiting to be in a relationship.

Waiting to be engaged.

Waiting to be married.

Waiting to have kids.

Waiting for the kids to get older.

Waiting for life to calm down.

Waiting for the next thing to finally make you happy.

But contentment doesn’t work like that.

Contentment is not saying, “I don’t want anything else.”

Contentment is saying, “God, while I wait for what’s next, I will not despise what’s now.”

Contentment is not saying, “I don’t want anything else.” Contentment is saying, “God, while I wait for what’s next, I will not despise what’s now.” #forsinglewomenonly Share on X

Philippians 4:11-13 reminds you that contentment is something learned.

Paul said he learned how to be content whether he had a little or a lot. That means contentment doesn’t automatically come when your circumstances change. It has to be cultivated in whatever circumstances you’re currently in.

Contentment doesn’t automatically come when your circumstances change. It has to be cultivated in whatever circumstances you’re currently in. #forsinglewomenonly Share on X

That matters because marriage won’t magically make you content.

Children won’t magically make you content.

A bigger house, better job, softer life, blinged out ring, or fuller calendar won’t magically make you content.

If your heart is always reaching for the next thing, the next thing will never be enough.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says there is a season for everything. That includes this one.

Your single season is not just empty space before your “real life” begins. It is still life. It is still meaningful. It is still full of opportunities to grow, serve, rest, explore, heal, build, learn, laugh, and become.

And Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

A bigger house, better job, softer life, blinged out ring, or fuller calendar won’t magically make you content. If your heart is always reaching for the next thing, the next thing will never be enough. #forsinglewomenonly Share on X

Not the day you finally get married.

Not the day your prayers are answered exactly the way you hoped.

Not the day everyone else finally understands your worth.

This day. The one you’re living right now.

You can pray for marriage and still enjoy your freedom.

Your single season is not just empty space before your “real life” begins. It is still life. It is still meaningful. It is still full of opportunities to grow, serve, rest, explore, heal, build, learn, laugh, and become.… Share on X

You can want a family and still thank God that, in this season, you can rest when you need to rest, travel when you’re able, serve where you’re called, and say yes to opportunities that may be harder to say yes to later.

So,

• Take the trip.
• Sleep in sometimes.
• Go to the beach.
• Try the new restaurant.
• Take the class.
• Visit your friend.
• Say yes to the last-minute plan when wisdom and your budget allow.
• Build the life you can build now.

Don’t put joy on hold until your relationship status changes.

Your single season may not be the season you want to stay in forever, but it is still a season God can bless.

And while you’re here, don’t just survive it. Enjoy what God has given you right now.

While you’re waiting on God for what’s next, don’t forget to enjoy what He’s already placed in your hands. What has God placed in your hands now?