{"id":4204,"date":"2016-12-28T09:45:43","date_gmt":"2016-12-28T14:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/?p=4204"},"modified":"2016-12-28T09:54:10","modified_gmt":"2016-12-28T14:54:10","slug":"your-season-is-for-a-reason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/christian-encouragement\/your-season-is-for-a-reason\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Season is for a Reason"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”-Proverbs 19:21<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

To the girl scrolling through her Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. As you witness all of the proposals, engagements, and first Holiday photos of newlyweds and couples I understand the emotions you’re experiencing. You can let it out… it’s okay. I promise you’re not alone. It’s the Holiday season, a time where many come together to be with loved ones and friends. It’s a joyous time as you hug relatives you may have not seen in awhile, sharing laughter and reminiscing on sweet memories while creating new ones. You’re thankful to God for times such as these. But suddenly, something strange begins to happen. You start to feel a tightness in your chest and your heart falls to your stomach when someone asks you, <\/span><\/p>\n

“Are you dating anyone?” or <\/strong><\/p>\n

“You’re not married yet?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know what you’re thinking, <\/strong><\/p>\n

“Great, I’ve been reminded of my singleness once again!” <\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’re anything like me, I’m sure you’d wish you could just disappear from that conversation all together. On Decemeber 25, the day the world acknowledges as Christmas Day, I witnessed many proposals, first time couples sharing their holiday together, and people getting married. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter you name it! I could not escape it. (Of course I could have by staying off of social media) But truth be told it was everywhere. As I witnessed these events take place on my timeline, I experienced many emotions and thoughts. One part of me was happy for the couple that had just gotten engaged, but then the other part of me started to feel sad. Where thoughts such as these clouded my mind, <\/span><\/p>\n

“You’re still single<\/em> girl,” or<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Is something wrong<\/em> with me? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Will I ever experience<\/em> a moment such as that?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

So here I was, battling with my thoughts and emotions, while still trying to smile and enjoy my family. When I got home that night from visiting with my family I realized that I needed to do some self reflecting. At the end of the day, I do not want the spirit of jealousy or envy to take residence in my heart. <\/span><\/p>\n

I want to encourage every woman out there who may be single, or has experienced an extended period of singleness such as myself:<\/span><\/p>\n

Do not rush<\/em> your season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I repeat, do not rush<\/em> your season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you trust<\/em> God? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Is God enough<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you believe<\/em> that He will take care of you? <\/strong><\/p>\n

We live in a generation that feels as though, if you’re not doing what the next person is doing you’re behind. If you don’t have what this person has, you’re not doing enough. Let me tell you something my friend, just like I have to tell myself, you are exactly where God has you and where you need to be for His purpose.<\/strong> Sometimes we spend too much time comparing ourselves to the next person instead of spending time with our Heavenly father. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Think about it. If God created each of us to be unique and different, why are you comparing yourself to someone else and what they have and where they’re at? We have to stay focused on God, and stay in our lanes. Once we realize that we do not move in our own timing but in God\u2019s timing, the Author and Finisher of time, the better off we’ll be. God knows your desires friend, and He also knows your needs. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Trust His process, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

His timing and <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

His plans for your life. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Allow Him to complete His perfect work in you. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Grow closer to Him.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cry out to Him in prayer. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Continue to live out His will for your life.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

God gives us our perspective. Praise Him and thank Him whether single or married. Ask Him to remove any desire or thought in your life that is fighting for first place in your heart. His love for you is endless. I repeat, please don’t rush your season.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Anonymous Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

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“But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”<\/p>\n

-James 1:4<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”-Proverbs 19:21 To the girl scrolling through her Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. As you witness all of the proposals, engagements, and first Holiday photos of newlyweds and couples I understand the emotions you’re experiencing. You can let it out… it’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[35],"tags":[110,115,63,145,64,65,107,70,116,159,174,117,97,126,158],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4204"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4209,"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4204\/revisions\/4209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.f3ashley.com\/2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}