These days, I’ve noticed that many young people struggle to be thankful. A lot of people are upset, tired, and always complaining.
I get it. There are so many reasons to feel frustrated or even sad, especially if you live where I am. But there is something important that never changes:
God will always be God. Nothing will ever change that. You can be angry, ignore Him, or even say you don’t believe in Him, but He is still God and will always be God forever.
So the wisest thing you can do is to stay close to the One who made the world, the One who created you, and who knows everything from start to finish.
But knowing about God isn’t enough. Almost everyone believes there is a God somewhere. What matters is truly trusting that He knows what He’s doing with your life.
No one understands you better than God—not even you. Some people might say this sounds like preaching. Maybe it does. But the truth is, if you want your life to have real meaning, you must have a personal connection with God.
The devil doesn’t have real joy to offer. Money or things can make you happy only for a short time. Even marriage or dating can become disappointing if God isn’t part of it.
So why am I saying this? Because I want to encourage you as a single person: always be thankful. If you’re still unmarried at 35 or 40, it doesn’t mean God has forgotten you. He’s not some delivery service that gives you everything you want right when you ask. You were created for His purpose.
You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.Revelation 4:11 (NLT)
You keep asking God for things, but have you stopped to ask what He wants from you? You dream about loving your future husband or wife. Well, you should first learn how to build that kind of loving relationship with God. My pastor used to say the most romantic people are those who spend time in the book of Romans. It sounds funny, but it’s true.
For in him we live and move and exist.Acts 17:28 (NLT)
Don’t let ingratitude steal tomorrow’s joy. Focus on what really matters. Stay close to the Holy Spirit.Remember, God doesn’t owe you anything, so let’s not act like He does.
You started the relationship with joy. The butterflies were flying, prayers were loud, and everything felt like a dream come true.
But slowly, your devotion to God started fading. Your prayer life grew cold. The fire you once had started burning low, all because of love.
Get on the seat and let’s gist. Look, it’s easy to get so caught up in someone that you forget the One who gave them to you.
Dating was never supposed to pull you away from God; it’s supposed to pull you both closer to Him. Any relationship that weakens your spiritual life is not a blessing; it’s a distraction.
Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” That means even while dating, your fire should still be burning. Your altar should still be alive.
If your relationship is costing you your connection with God, it’s too expensive. Love shouldn’t make you skip devotionals. It shouldn’t make you hide. It shouldn’t silence your convictions. True love doesn’t compete with God.
Don’t fall for the lie that says, “It’s just a season” or “It will get better.” Many have carried spiritual dryness into marriage because they never checked it during dating.
Pray together, yes. Also, pray alone.
Talk about your future, yes. Also, grow in your personal walk.
Love them deeply, but love God deeper.
You don’t have to choose between love and fire. You can have both when the relationship is built on the right foundation.
So, if you feel your fire slipping;
Pause
Reconnect
Return to your first love.
No matter how amazing they are, only God can satisfy your soul. You’re not just dating for fun, you’re dating for purpose, and purpose starts with staying connected to the One who holds it all together.
In a world where premarital intimacy is often normalized and even celebrated, God’s design for sexual purity might seem outdated or restrictive. However, His command to reserve intimacy for marriage isn’t about limiting joy—it’s about protecting love, fostering trust, and reflecting His holiness. Let’s explore why God said no to intimacy before the wedding and how obeying this principle brings blessings far beyond what we can imagine.
1. Intimacy Reflects Covenant Love
Sexual intimacy was designed by God to be an expression of covenant commitment—a sacred bond between a husband and wife (Genesis 2:24). In Ephesians 5:31-32, Paul describes marriage as a profound mystery that reflects Christ’s relationship with the Church. Premarital intimacy undermines this picture by separating sex from its intended purpose: lifelong unity. When couples wait until marriage, they honor God’s design and experience intimacy as He intended—as a symbol of unconditional, sacrificial love.
2. It Protects Emotional Health
Premarital intimacy often leads to emotional entanglement and vulnerability. While physical closeness creates strong bonds, these connections can become painful if the relationship ends. Many people carry scars of heartbreak, guilt, or regret into future relationships because they gave themselves fully without the security of a lifelong commitment. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Waiting until marriage safeguards your heart and ensures that intimacy strengthens rather than complicates your emotional well-being.
3. It Builds Trust and Respect
When two people honor each other by waiting for marriage, they demonstrate respect for one another’s worth and boundaries. This decision fosters trust, knowing that neither person is pursuing selfish desires but is committed to building something lasting. First Thessalonians 4:3-5 instructs believers to live holy lives, avoiding sexual immorality and treating others with purity and honor. By reserving intimacy for marriage, couples lay a foundation of mutual respect that enhances their relationship.
4. It Prevents Unnecessary Consequences
God’s commands are not arbitrary—they are rooted in wisdom and love. Premarital intimacy can lead to unintended consequences such as unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, or damaged reputations. These challenges can derail dreams, strain families, and create unnecessary hardships. By waiting for marriage, couples avoid these risks and enter their union with clarity and freedom to focus on building a life together.
5. It Honors God’s Holiness
God calls His people to live set apart from the patterns of the world (1 Peter 1:15-16). Reserving intimacy for marriage is an act of worship—an acknowledgment that our bodies belong to Him and are meant to glorify Him. When we follow His plan, we align ourselves with His holiness and invite His blessing into our lives. Psalm 119:9 declares, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your word.” Obedience to God’s standards protects us from harm and positions us to experience His best.
Final Thought:
God’s “no” to intimacy before marriage is actually a loving “yes” to something better—pure, unbroken, covenantal love within the safety of marriage. While waiting may feel difficult in a culture that pressures us to compromise, obedience to God’s design brings immeasurable rewards: deeper intimacy, stronger trust, emotional healing, and spiritual fulfillment.
If you’ve already crossed this boundary, remember that God offers grace and restoration. Confess your choices, seek His forgiveness, and commit to walking in purity moving forward. Whether you’re preparing for marriage or seeking renewal in your current relationship, trust that God’s way is always worth it. After all, He knows what will bring you the greatest joy and satisfaction—not just now, but for eternity.
As the evening settled in and the sky shifted from the glow of the sun to the calm of moonlight, Becky waited for Tomi, the man she had recently fallen for.
They had been together for about two months. They looked like a perfect couple from the outside, but Becky knew the truth was far more complicated.
In those weeks, they became consumed by physical intimacy, engaging in daily sexual activity that stopped short of intercourse. Even though her virginity remained intact, she felt her sense of purity and peace slipping away. She couldn’t quite understand how she had allowed things to spiral so far, and now she was left with a wound she didn’t know how to heal by herself.
One scripture kept echoing in her mind:
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”Hebrews 12:1–3 (MSG):
Becky realized that if she stayed on this path, she’d be letting down not just herself, but God, her family, and all those who believed she was capable of something better. It felt as though she was trading something precious, a life of purpose and integrity for a fleeting sense of pleasure she knew wouldn’t last.
But how could she turn around?
If you’re facing something similar, remember this: the answer hasn’t changed. It’s always been Jesus. When you feel trapped, call out to him. He never turns you away.
At the end of our lives, each of us longs to stand before God unashamed. That moment matters more than any temporary desire. Jesus said it plainly
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”John 14:6 (KJV):
Hebrews urges us again:
Keep your eyes on Jesus… Study how he did it… He never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God.”
If you sense him knocking on the door of your heart, don’t wait. Today can be the day everything changes. Open the door. Let him in.
Why Forgiveness Is a Must in Relationships and Marriage
Forgiveness is not a suggestion in relationships — it’s a necessity. Whether it’s a friendship, courtship, or lifelong marriage, the need to forgive will always arise. Why? Because no one is perfect. Mistakes, misunderstandings, and offenses are inevitable when two imperfect people are doing life together. What makes the relationship thrive is not the absence of wrongs but the presence of forgiveness.
Here’s why forgiveness is a must in relationships and marriage, supported by scriptures:
1. Forgiveness Reflects the Nature of God
God is the perfect model of love and forgiveness. He extends mercy daily, and as His children, we are called to do the same in our relationships.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
When we forgive, we mirror God’s heart. It reminds us and our partner that love is not based on perfection but on grace.
2. Forgiveness Preserves Unity and Intimacy
Bitterness creates emotional distance, but forgiveness heals and restores connection. No relationship can thrive in the presence of resentment.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
When you forgive, you choose unity over being right, and peace over pride.
3. Forgiveness Frees You from Emotional Bondage
Unforgiveness hurts the one holding onto it more than the offender. It weighs your heart down with anger, bitterness, and emotional exhaustion.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
Forgiveness liberates your soul. You let go, not because they always deserve it, but because you deserve peace.
4. Forgiveness Keeps Love Alive
Love cannot flourish in an environment of record-keeping. Forgiveness allows love to grow without being choked by past offenses.
Love… keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5 (Nkjv)
The more you forgive, the more space you create for love to remain warm, patient, and resilient
5. Forgiveness Strengthens the Covenant
In marriage, forgiveness isn’t occasional — it’s constant. It’s the glue that keeps the covenant strong, especially during hard seasons.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14
You forgive not only because you vowed to love through the ups and downs, but also because God commands it, and He rewards obedience.
Forgiveness in marriage and relationships is not about pretending the offense didn’t hurt; it’s about choosing healing over hurting. It doesn’t make the other person right — it makes you whole.
Forgiveness is how you love deeply, stay united, and remain free. It’s how you mirror Christ’s love and protect the gift of relationship that God has entrusted to you.
