I Worshipped An Idol

Article by Afi Pitman

I have a confession to make. For a few years of my singles life, I made marriage an idol. Want to know how I know? I had an encounter with God in October of 2012 that would have gone something like this had it been an actual conversation:

God: “Beloved, you’ve made marriage an idol”

Me: (Pointing at myself looking around) “What do you mean I’ve…No, because I know better. Your Word says ‘Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods before Me’. I KNOW not to worship idols!”

God: (sighs, drops His head, and then shakes it) “Then why do you keep reminding me that you’re still single and pointing out who’s already married? Like I can’t or won’t bless you…”

Me: (trying to think of an answer, but finding none and completely ashamed…) “Touché”

I had just started reading Isaiah 30, a passage that talked about how the children of Israel had made Egypt and all its leadership, trappings and comfort their idol and had completely lost their faith in God – the only true and Living God. By the time God was through with me that night, I couldn’t read my Bible for a month. I questioned my own reasoning for even wanting to get married – after I finally admitted to myself I even wanted to get married! But the good news was that by the end of that night, God also reassured me that the minute I tore down that idol and put Him back in His rightful place, I would be ready to meet and marry my husband.

The amazing thing about this whole encounter was that it happened shortly after my father died. I had been crying out to God like never before. My filter was nonexistent. Eventually He showed me that underneath the grief and the shock of my father’s death there was a growing discontentment in my “single” marital status. My tendency to want a husband to turn to had eclipsed God’s provision in my life. I’ll say that again and make it plain. Instead of initially turning to God and God alone, I became distressed over the fact that I didn’t have a husband to turn to in my time of grief. That only made the grief worse.

Thank God there was nowhere to go but up from there. I started to turn to God instead of focusing on what I thought I was supposed to have. Since then, God took me to another level in my faith that I never dreamed of. I learned how to pray in every occasion. I learned how to depend on God alone. I tore that marriage idol down and never looked back. I took God at His Word and here I am stronger and able to encourage other single Christian women to not give up hope that God can bless them where they are AND prepare them for marriage.

Now, I didn’t forget that I want to be married. God didn’t either. Remember I told you of His reassurance that I’d be ready for marriage once I tore that idol down. But the most wonderful thing happened instead. I fell deeper in love with Him. And I know – no, I believe – that when it’s time, the man God has for me will meet the “me” God always intended for me to be. Wherever you are, do NOT give up or ever stop believing that God is still in the business of answering the prayers of singles.

Afi (pronounced Ah-fee) Pittman is an author, a speaker and the CEO of Author of Faith Enterprises – which was created to speak to the heart of today’s single, Christian woman. If you need encouragement and insight on how to live in victory while you’re on your journey to Mr. Right, please keep in touch with Afi by visiting www.authorofmyfaith.com and signing up for the company e-newsletter. If you’d like more information about Afi, please visit www.churchmousehustler.com.