Most of my friends are already married, and I am not getting any younger. What should I do?

We can certainly understand your desire to marry. However, if you have received Jesus as your Savior and Lord you need not allow this desire to influence your thoughts so much that you lose your joy and spiritual effectiveness.

Rather than spending your energy being concerned over your singleness, commit it to the Lord, and He will direct in this as in every other matter of life; see Proverbs 3:5-6 and Psalm 32:8. As you commit yourself completely to Christ, you may be assured that His love will provide the best for your life.

If marriage is included in God's plan for your life, make certain that you consider marriage only to someone who knows and loves the Lord and intends to make Christ the center of the relationship (2 Corinthians 6:14).

It is important to remember that it is not necessarily God's will for everyone to marry. We often emphasize Genesis 2:24: "Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh," to the exclusion of 1 Corinthians 7:7: "I wish everyone could get along without marrying, just as I do. But we are not all the same. God gives some the gift of a husband or wife, and others he gives the gift of being able to stay happily unmarried" (TLB).

In the 1 Corinthians passage, Paul confirms that God does give the gift of being and remaining single to some persons. Every Christian must answer for himself the question, "Is it God's will that I marry?" God never plans anything for us except what is best. Whether married or single, you can become a truly fulfilled individual by following the Lord's plan and purpose for your life. Perhaps the Lord is leading you out into an area of service for Him.

We encourage you to fellowship in a gospel-preaching church and other Christian organizations in your area where you will gain friendships and find opportunities for service. If you have not already done so, organize your day so that you will have a special time to spend alone with God.

Be sure that you do not neglect this "quiet time," for this communion with our Lord will give you power to overcome discouragement, to understand and follow God’s will for your life, and to live a Spirit-filled life.