Waiting Well: 4 Lessons from Advent for Single Christians

If we are being completely honest, no person really finds waiting an enjoyable experience. I have never met anyone who testified that waiting is one of their most favorite things in the world to do. Waiting is often accompanied with impatience, frustration, weariness, restlessness, disappointment, and the list could go on and on.

However, we find hope through the lens of Advent as we reflect upon how Jesus literally came to earth. Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) proclaims, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." When we consider how Jesus was born of a virgin, it should give us great hope because we recognize nothing is impossible or too hard for our God to perform. 

Perhaps you have been waiting longer than anticipated to meet the spouse of your dreams and have now started to believe that all hope is gone. May this simple reminder to you today be the sign and confirmation that all is not lost. There is always hope because of Jesus.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT) tells us, "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up." Allow the hope of Advent to awaken your hope in Jesus. Keep doing what is good, and keep expecting the goodness of Jesus to be revealed to you all month long. As we draw our attention to the hope revealed in Advent, it helps us shift our focus on what we have and not what we long for. Rest assured that if God has promised you the gift of marriage, it will happen in your due season. Until then, celebrate your gift of singleness and treasure the blessings of Advent by choosing to cling to the hope of Jesus.

Many people falsely believe peace can be known through acquiring things or experiences. "If I just had more money, then I could feel secure and be at peace…If only I had a bigger house, then I would be comfortable and have peace…If only I were married, then I would feel complete, content, and know peace."

The truth is, nothing we can experience in this world can give us peace. John 14:27 (NIV) declares, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." Oftentimes, our hearts are troubled and afraid because we mistakenly expect sources other than Jesus to provide us peace. Jesus is The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and peace comes in knowing Him alone. There is no substitution, and any other attempt is an imitation.

Sometimes, single people find themselves dissatisfied with their marital status, causing them to believe if they were only married, they would be at peace about their lives. This narrative is dangerous because it involves dependency upon another human for something that can only truly be known in Jesus.

This Advent season, choose the peace Jesus supplies. It is one of the reasons He came. Luke 2:14 (NKJV) reminds us, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" As we remember how Jesus was born on earth to bring peace to us, may this truth of Advent fill our hearts with God's presence with us as Immanuel.

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In a secular sense, we might associate joy with extreme happiness. However, from a spiritual perspective, joy is anchored in Jesus and experienced through an abiding relationship with Him. Joy is not dictated by external factors but is encountered through the intimacy we share in our relationship with Christ.

Christian singles do not have to live defeated, joyless lives at Christmas because we understand that joy is not contingent upon our dating or marital status. Joy given to us because of Advent is internal and personally fulfilling since we know Jesus is the anchor of our joy.

Romans 15:13 (NIV) says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." How empowering to know that God fills us with joy as we trust in Him!

As we cleave to joy this advent season, let us join with the angels in Luke 2:10-11 (ESV) that announced, "...Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." There is great joy available to us because Jesus was born to become our Savior. Oh, what a reason to rejoice!

Many singles will confess there is a desire within to unite with the love of their life here on earth. Nevertheless, there is a longing to be loved that cannot be matched or compared to any human love. There is a place within each of us reserved for the gratification that comes exclusively from accepting the love of God. The love our Creator demonstrates to His creation is without equal. There is no greater love than God's love.

During Advent, the most amazing aspect of God's love for humanity is not in the disclosure that Jesus was given to be born. It is actually in the acknowledgment that Jesus was given to be born so that He could die. "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13, NLT). We know from John 3:16 (ESV), "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This is the love of Advent; the love of God that fills our heart all year long.

Even if you find yourself feeling a bit misplaced or lonely in certain settings this Christmas because you are single, take comfort in meditating on the undeniable love God has lavishly given through Jesus. The lessons we hold dearly of His hope, peace, joy, and love are worth commemorating throughout Advent as they encourage us to wait well, especially during the holiday season.