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A Single Blessing

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In part one of this article, I told you my story of praising God for singleness — even when that was the last thing I wanted to do. In part two, I want to study Job — someone who praised God when he had lost absolutely everything.

Job's Journey

When I heard the words to Blessed Be Your Name, I also thought of poor Job in the Bible. In fact, the lyrics of this song were taken from Job's response to his circumstances.

There's old Job, with plenty of money, land, livestock and a big family. One day, everything he has is taken away from him. All of his children die, some of his animals get stolen, some of them are burned up — everything is gone. Naturally, Job is more than a little upset. He shaves his head and tears his clothes in mourning. But guess what else Job does. He worships God. He says, "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (1:21, NIV).

I sometimes wonder if Job meant it when he praised God that day. I wonder if he could truly praise God in the midst of his grief. Either way, he did it. He worshipped his God, who had the ability to give and take away. He accepted the good and the bad. He realized that his circumstances did not change the goodness of God's character.

When I praised God that night in my room, I don't think I had the same attitude as Job. My circumstances weren't nearly as bad as his, but my attitude was much worse. The Bible says that Job did not sin when he was afflicted. He questioned God, he searched for answers, he came close to cursing God. But he didn't. In the depths of the pit, Job praised his Lord.

God's Explanation — Or Not

I love God's answer to Job's questions. There have been numerous essays written on God's response to Job. Some think His answer is tough and irrational, but I love it.

Job can't figure out why he's been afflicted. He was righteous; he hadn't done anything to deserve his situation. For 37 chapters, Job puzzles over why God allows this to happen to him, and he petitions God for an explanation. In chapter 38, God answers. He comes to him in a storm and says:

Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? (vv. 2-5)

God goes on and on like this, asking Job all these questions about creation, about things Job could have no clue about. God never tells Job why He allowed him to suffer. He only displays His sovereignty. Job gets it. He says, "I am unworthy — how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer — twice, but I will say no more" (40:4-5).

Job's reply to God is so impressive. Here I am, whining because I don't have anyone to take me to a movie, and then there's Job, accepting God's sovereignty in the midst of a completely devastated life.

For some reason, I am comforted by Job's story. I guess it's because it helps me realize that God knows more than I do. He laid the foundation of the world in place. He knows each of His creatures. God knows why I'm single, and He knows why it's best for me right now.

Starving for Hunger

I know what you're thinking. You're wondering if I started to feel more contentment after I began to praise God for singleness, aren't you? Well, yes and no.

A while ago, someone asked me where I would wake up tomorrow if I could awake anywhere at any time. I said that I would wake up on a summer morning, lying in bed with my husband as I hold my sleeping newborn in my arms. He would wrap his arms around us, lean over to smile at the baby, and then kiss my temple. That hasn't changed. If I had my choice, I would still wake up there. Those longings haven't gone away.

However, I do think that I am a bit more sincere when I thank God for my singleness. It is part of His plan for me right now — something He has blessed me with — so I'm trying to see it that way. When I struggle to thank God for this period in my life, I remind myself that it's less about feeling that singleness is a blessing, and more about believing that it is, because God said it is.

We were doing our morning devotions at work awhile ago, and we read Deuteronomy 8. Moses is talking to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, and he reminds them to remember everything God has done for them and to avoid thinking that they did it themselves. Moses tells them that God led them into the desert and allowed them to wander for 40 years in order to humble them.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (v. 3).

I love that God caused them to hunger so that He could feed them bread from heaven. If the Israelites hadn't been hungry — if they hadn't been desperate for food — they wouldn't have appreciated the miracle as much. Sometimes God makes us truly hungry so that He can feed us something much more filling than we had expected.

Whether God chooses to give me a husband, or whether He just allows me to praise Him for the blessing of singleness my whole life, I know that He will never let me starve. He loves me, He cares about me, and He has plans for me. I know those things to be true. They are written in His word, my daily bread.

Blessed Be The Name

I still don't have this whole contentment thing figured out. It is still tough for me to praise God for every situation in my life. But since I was five, I have understood that the God of the universe is one who can be trusted. He is someone who will finish the good work He has begun in me.

God never guaranteed that I would be happy. But He has promised to remain faithful to me. God is real and He loves me. I cling wholeheartedly to those truths. Blessed be the name of the Lord.