“One of the greatest advantages of singleness is the potential for greater focus on Christ and accomplishing work for Him.”
― Elizabeth George

"Do you have a boyfriend? When will you start dating? Who do you have your eye on? Hows the love life?"
If you're anything like me, your family and friends ask you this all the time. Every time the answer is "no one" that seems to disappoint them more than yourself. Who knows, it may bug you too.

At the age of 18, or any age for that matter, there is so much pressure to date, to be pursued and loved. I'm going to probably be the first to tell you that SINGLENESS is AWESOME. No, this isn't a typo. I meant to say awesome. The social standards we are used to being compared to is just a distraction from the truth. What is the truth you ask?

The truth is, we are all broken, messed up, wounded people that have all been through our own personal kind of hell. We have wounds that require attention before healing. So during this time of singleness, I get to focus on all the things that make me who I am. I get to seek fulfillment in the Lord to have the voids in my heart filled up. Im learning about how to be complete, being ALONE. That sounds wild doesn't it? Especially in 2016, to be completed independently.

Dating is not to find your other half. If you are seeking to be completed by someone else, you'll be very disappointed when that void is only filled temporarily. Only God can complete you. Anything else will fail.

Don't settle. Don't find someone who makes you happy right now, because if it's not within God's will or intention for your life, it will not be blessed and it will not prosper. In turn, it will fail. The Lord cannot bless what's outside of His law. So if you're dating someone who doesn't share a Christian lifestyle as you do, God cannot bless that. Even if they are seeking Jesus, it might not be in His plan. If your soul and identity isn't rooted in Christ, take the time of singleness to pursue Him and who you are in Him.

Be exactly who you are. And if you have no clue what that looks like, then soak up this time to figure it out. Without anyone telling you who to be.

Be single, and be proud. Paul says it's best to be single. Take advantage of this time to pursue God and yourself, and your life distraction-less. God will bless that. Singleness is not a bad word, it's a blessed season!

Go eat dinner by yourself. Go to a movie alone. Buy yourself a present. Dress up, for you. Workout for health, not for another person to think you're pretty. Get an education. Find out what you want to do with your life. Do WHATEVER YOU WANT and don't compromise because, well, you don't have to.