As a single Christian woman, I’ve learned that seeking marriage from a place of loneliness can lead us to compromise our standards and settle for relationships that don’t align with God’s plan. I’ve been guilty of stalking potential matches on social media and creating elaborate “signs from God” to justify my attraction to someone who wasn’t right for me.
Really though, I know when we’re putting our love and trust in Christ first, we can approach dating with clarity and discernment rather than desperation.
Finding wholeness in God allows us to recognize the difference between emotional neediness and genuine spiritual connection with a potential spouse. And ladies (and gents), let’s be honest. Waiting on God’s timing while staying pure isn’t (always) easy, but it’s so worth it to trust His blueprint for love and marriage rather than trying to force our timeline as some secular advice would have us do.
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The support of the community has transformed my approach to dating.
While many view relationships as profoundly personal and private, including trusted friends and mentors provides valuable perspective, helping identify concerns we might overlook alone.
Proverbs 11:14 speaks of the safety found in many counselors. This guidance keeps us aligned with God’s plan.
I’ve found such truth in Proverbs 19:14: ‘Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.’ Like you, I’ve learned that trying to force relationships from loneliness only leads to settling for less than God’s best, and I’ve had to catch myself creating those ‘signs from God’ too!
I love how you mentioned finding wholeness in God first. It’s so true that when we’re content in Christ, we can approach dating with clarity instead of desperately trying to interpret every little interaction as a ‘sign from above’ (guilty as charged! ).
What often gets overlooked is how forgiveness shapes dating and marriage
We are all imperfect, and holding onto past hurts can cloud our judgment about potential partners
Ephesians 4:32 encourages us to forgive as Christ forgave us, which transformed how I view relationships Practicing forgiveness and grace helps me see others through God’s eyes and keeps my heart open to His plans
I’ve learned through my own walk that when I stopped trying to force relationships and instead focused on growing closer to God through prayer and Bible study with others, He brought clarity about who was truly right for me. The waiting was hard but it helped me develop the discernment to recognize genuine spiritual connection versus just emotional attraction.
I used to do mental gymnastics, trying to convince myself that sharing the same birthday with someone meant we were destined to be together!
Through prayer and honest conversations with my small group, I’ve learned to distinguish between genuine Holy Spirit guidance and wishful thinking. The peace that comes from truly surrendering our love lives to God’s timing is so different from the anxious ‘peace’ we manufacture when trying to force connections.
I can totally relate to the social media stalking part. I had to delete Instagram for a month to break that habit and focus on actually getting to know people at church events instead, which turned out to be so much healthier for my spiritual walk!
I try to view dating as a form of stewardship, ensuring each step aligns with biblical principles. I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) how important it is to maintain physical boundaries to uphold this respect. The Song of Songs taught me the wisdom of patience and not rushing into love before the right time.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to be on the same spiritual path with your partner. I’ve seen relationships struggle with unequal spiritual maturity or different values. That’s why prioritizing spiritual growth together matters - it keeps us aligned with God’s perfect plan for our lives.
This reminds me of Matthew 6:33, ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.’
Like you, I’ve learned that rushing into relationships from a place of loneliness usually compromises our Christian values, but when we’re grounded in Christ, we can approach dating with wisdom and discernment. Waiting isn’t always easy, but there’s such peace in trusting God’s timing and His perfect plan for marriage, knowing that He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
Something I’ve realized (and it hit me like a brick wall one day) is the importance of being intentional about the kind of partner I want to be (not just daydreaming about my perfect match), rather than the kind of partner I want to have. Instead of focusing solely on finding ‘the one’ (which we spend way too much time doing), I work on becoming someone who embodies Christ-like love (easier said than done), patience, and kindness. This shift in mindset (and believe me, it’s a major one) helps me approach relationships with humility and a desire to serve (which is what it’s really all about), which aligns more closely with God’s design for love.
You might like this one too. It breaks down practical ways to build a strong Christian family while navigating modern challenges like technology and cultural pressures. It’s never too late to begin leading your family God’s way. If you’re struggling with family dynamics or wondering how to create a Christ-centered home, this discussion offers valuable perspective.
Practicing forgiveness and grace helps me see others through God’s eyes and keeps my heart open to His plans 
