Complete

When I was much younger, I used to think I was a damsel in distress just waiting for my life to begin (thanks a lot, Disney movies).  Of course, all of this could only happen when Prince Charming came on the scene, right?  I really thought that I *needed* a man in my life to be happy!

Well, needless to say, all my hopes and dreams were pretty much smashed in the romance department and I didn't know what to do with myself or my life.  

And, while I'm sad that things didn't go as planned, I am extremely grateful for some big life lessons I have learned.

I realized that I was putting WAY too much pressure on the whole idea of love / romance AKA "that special someone" to complete me / make me happy.  No man can live up to that!  It's unrealistic and unfair to completely rely on another human to make me feel good about myself / "save" me from my circumstances.  It just doesn't work.  

What I now know is that it is most important to look to JESUS for ultimate completion / fulfillment / happiness.  Only HE can provide that rock and stability I need to feel secure and confident, not in myself alone, but in what He helps me to be!

I am so amazed at how, even when my heart is aching and broken, even when I don't get what I think I want, if I only remember to lean on the Lord, He fills me with an indescribable joy and contentment. 

1 Peter 1:7-8 tells us that "the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."

And I know that this is the answer.  Only God can fix the brokenness within me.  He is the source of joy, hope and salvation from circumstances.

Don't get me wrong, relationships can be a beautiful, amazing gift from God!  He designed it so perfectly and I can only dream of what it must be like to have that.  But, if He does bless us with that, it is icing on the cake, not the whole cake!   And, if He doesn't allow us to have that, we still have something wonderful, amazing even.

I can still be complete in Him and my heart will rejoice in the Lord!