None of us can go through life without receiving some sort of emotional wounds or bruises. At some point, we’re guaranteed to come into contact with people or situations that leave us feeling broken and hurting. How we deal with the fallout determines whether we get stuck in the situation, or move on. We can either become fearful and overly cautious about future relationships, or let God guide us in this area.

The world gives us mixed signals and plenty of wrong information about marital status. Defining ourselves according to popular opinion can leave us feeling like half a person if we’re single. The key to being whole, however, isn’t being married, but having a relationship with a God who very much wants to be part of our lives. “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 17:8). The definition of the apple of someone’s eye is a person who is loved and valued very much—God, Himself, loves us and thinks we’re terrific.

God is an expert in restoring wholeness to shattered people. When Jesus healed the ten lepers but only one returned to thank Him, He told the leper that his faith had made him whole (Luke 17:19); He said the same thing to the woman with the issue of blood after He healed her (Matthew 9:22). To be whole is to have nothing missing and nothing broken in our lives, including our emotional lives. When we believe that God earnestly wants wholeness for us because He loves us deeply, we can bounce back from hurts and disappointments.

It’s painful to open ourselves up emotionally to another person and suffer rejection. If we live our lives only based on our connections to others, we’re at risk of letting this kind of hurt paralyze us and stop us from moving forward. This isn’t God’s will for us. “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Trusting that He wants the best for us allows Him to begin the healing process.

The fear of being alone is real for many people. God wants us to know that when we make Jesus the Lord of our lives and start a relationship with Him, He’ll never leave us. “…For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” (Hebrews 13:5, AMPC). This is a solid promise we can count on. People may come and go in our lives, but when we accept Jesus, He’s here to stay.

God didn’t create us to go through life alone. We may find ourselves between relationships for a season in our lives, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Asking Him for help and guidance, and for the wisdom to make wise choices in our relationships, lets Him get involved.“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). He knows far more than we do, including the right person for us.

Wholeness comes only from God. His presence adds a whole new dimension to our lives. When we’re in a painful place, we won’t stay there long when we let God take us by the hand and lead us out.

For more on enjoying the single life, click below for the CD series Life Talks: Dating Remastered.