It's funny (in a God sort of way) that your question came at the same time I was writing my latest journal entry (February 20, 2007). If you haven't read it yet, you might want to.
I can totally relate to those feelings, sis. It's not easy to be patient when loneliness, longing and discouragement are such strong emotions. But hope, anticipation and faith can be equally strong—if you'll cultivate them. Those latter emotions don't come as naturally, so we really have to work at them. One practical way I found to nurture excitement for the future (rather than disappointment in the present) was to write letters to my future husband. As I would write them, I could feel the loneliness melt away, replaced by the excitement that he really was "out there somewhere," and that someday I would be able to give him my whole heart.
I'd also recommend reading a book that encourages you to keep your goal in sight, like "When God Writes Your Love Story" (Eric and Leslie Ludy) or "Passion and Purity" (Elisabeth Elliot). It's next to impossible not to get excited for what God has in store for you when you read books like those!
And don't forget that the emotions you're feeling are indeed normal, natural, and nothing to be afraid of. There will be seasons that are harder or lonelier than others, and then there will be times when the sun comes out again and you'll feel like you could be perfectly content with not ever having a boyfriend! So hang in there, sis.
Love,
I can totally relate to those feelings, sis. It's not easy to be patient when loneliness, longing and discouragement are such strong emotions. But hope, anticipation and faith can be equally strong—if you'll cultivate them. Those latter emotions don't come as naturally, so we really have to work at them. One practical way I found to nurture excitement for the future (rather than disappointment in the present) was to write letters to my future husband. As I would write them, I could feel the loneliness melt away, replaced by the excitement that he really was "out there somewhere," and that someday I would be able to give him my whole heart.
I'd also recommend reading a book that encourages you to keep your goal in sight, like "When God Writes Your Love Story" (Eric and Leslie Ludy) or "Passion and Purity" (Elisabeth Elliot). It's next to impossible not to get excited for what God has in store for you when you read books like those!
And don't forget that the emotions you're feeling are indeed normal, natural, and nothing to be afraid of. There will be seasons that are harder or lonelier than others, and then there will be times when the sun comes out again and you'll feel like you could be perfectly content with not ever having a boyfriend! So hang in there, sis.
Love,