In being home the past month and seeing friends and family members after being away at school all semester, I have noticed a pattern. People are dying to know all about my incredibly interesting college adventures, wanting to know all of the stories behind my Facebook and Instagram posts they have been vicariously living through the past few months. I must have had the same conversation about a thousand times. An endless loop of “You look so much older!”, “How did you do in your classes?”, “Have you made lots of friends?” and inevitably, the dreaded, “Have you fallen in love? Is there anyone special in your life?”

I suppose it’s a perfectly reasonable question. I’ve never been one to chase after relationships; in fact, I’ve always done quite the opposite. Being single is something that I’ve valued and cherished throughout my teenage years, and I have yet to find someone that I would be willing to surrender that freedom for. I understand why my dear friends and family would be curious about this part of my life. However, I think that many people who know me tend to think of me as a ticking time bomb, just waiting for the moment when that special someone lights the fuse, and I explode with joy and fulfillment.

The truth is, I’m not a ticking time bomb. My joy and fulfillment is not and will never be derived from another human being. My joy and fulfillment is derived from Jesus. I’m not a bomb, I’m a fountain who God is using to pour His love and blessings out into the world. God is doing great things in and through my life; things that He could not do if I were in a relationship. He is shaping me into the person that He wants me to be, and He is teaching me who I am as an individual. He is using my time as a single girl to strengthen my relationship with Him. Through this important season of my life, He is preparing me for the relationship that is to come. He is teaching me what a healthy relationship should look like and what qualities I should look for in a man.

In 1 Corinthians 7:6-7, the apostle Paul calls singleness a gift. Many people overlook or fail to see the truth behind this statement. If God has not put someone in my life to date, it is because He is teaching me, growing me and preparing me for when He does. The season of singleness is a wonderful season in life, and it is one that will eventually be gone forever. Instead of trying to rush out of it, I prefer to savor it, allowing God to do as much through me as possible.

So beloved family, wonderful friends, understand that when you ask me about my relationship status and I tell you I have not found the right person yet, there is no reason to pity me or try to console me. I am well aware that he will come around eventually, but for now, I love where I’m at. I hope that the next time you ask me about whether or not I’m dating anyone, you will remember that I am bursting with joy and fulfillment even in the season God has me in. I hope that you are able to see me as a fountain, not a time bomb.