Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Pilgrim's Road Trip

Home
Evangelical
A Single Woman’s Prayer

A Single Woman’s Prayer

Last updated on: August 19, 2013 at 1:43 pm by Michelle Van Loon

A Single Woman’s Prayer 2013-08-19T13:43:49-05:00 Michelle Van Loon

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Yesterday, I heard one of the bravest confessions I’ve ever heard in public. The church we attend has a space in the service for people to share their own written prayers of lament or celebration. Most are heartfelt, and a couple have been quite remarkable. Last summer, an expression of pain from a mom whose baby died shortly after birth stuck echoed inside of me for days, and helped me understand how to pray for this young couple.

During Sunday morning’s service, a woman just a few years younger than I who has never been married stood before the congregation to share her words about her experience of singleness. She is a bright professional woman with a deep and abiding faith – faith enough to stand in front of a couple hundred people and speak her pain while voicing her hope in God. I was so moved by her extraordinary courage and honesty that I asked if I might share her words with you today.

Lord I have waited for so long for someone to spend my life with.

How long have I waited Lord?

My soul is undone in years of waiting,

as I watch each tree grow from seedling to

spreading shade, so have I waited.

In the early years I saw the first branches

and leaves and thought “that’s fine,

mine will come. My turn will come.”

Then seasons gave way to years, one, two, ten, twenty and I see the trees growing

thick strong limbs supporting

tireswings and treehouses and all that is family.

Walking past I thought, have you forgotten me Lord?

When is my time?

Finally a dark shadow covers the ground,

spills over enfolding me in darkness.

Where are you Lord?

My tears soak my pillow each night.

My heart is sickened by hope deferred so long.

Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage

Yes, wait for the Lord.

Through the years waiting for the one, I found you Lord —

The one who is always there,

Who touched me with your healing,

who saved my job in a time of crisis,

who sustained me through times of deep despair.

You hold me still when I am restless.

I am your daughter, your beloved and you are mine.

Your breath is sweet redemption.

Your words satisfy my hunger and give me a living hope.

You lead me to a place of deeply satisfying blessing,

the blessing of a life lived totally devoted to you and you alone.

You withhold no good thing from me, redeeming all the years.

I am waiting in the cool of the shade you have provided,

a garden filled with delights you have created just for me.

And in the waiting and those quiet moments,

your still small voice whispers your precious love to me.

You are here in the waiting.

Everyday Christian life

Previous Post

August 16, 2013

Postscript To My Announcement Last Week

Next Post

August 21, 2013 Pilgrim's Road Trip #14: On 'Moving On'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Baggage Books Calendar Church and Ministry CVID Ecclesiology Everyday Christian life Faith Falling Upward From The Margins Housing Jesus Movement's Unintended Consequences Midlife Midlife Survey #1 Midlife Survey #2 Moments and Days Out To The Margins Pilgrim's Road Trip Regret Seminary Spiritual Formation Uncategorized What's A Nice Jewish Grandmother Like You Doing In Seminary? When The Heart Waits Writing

Select a Month June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

According to 1 John, what three things testify on earth?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving The Spirit, the water, and the blood The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Faith, hope, and love