Doreen Button

The scattering of manna in the wilderness happened 6 days a week. On the 7th, just as in creation, God rested and so did the Israelites—at least the obedient ones. Those who went out to gather manna on the Sabbath disappointed themselves and God.

I honestly don’t see any way God could have made us anything other than automatons unless He gave us the freedom to choose something other than Him. He loves us and wants us to love Him. Forced or legislated love isn’t love.

Certainly, since God is all-powerful, and since He is likely to restore many good things that were taken as a result of the Curse, He’s certainly capable re-creating those things on the New Earth for our pleasure and His glory. However, He will not duplicate our idols.

Based on what you’ve shared it sounds like you are deeply disappointed with God because He hasn’t given you “the desires of your heart” by bringing a partner into your life. You are lonely and want to experience what you believe others have and believe you won’t ever get to enjoy. That’s a tough place to be and if it were a true representation of who God is and how He treats His children, you’d have a very good reason to be depressed and angry.

It sounds like you are aware that living together without a covenant marriage commitment goes against what God tells us is His will for us and you are concerned about the consequences of continuing to live together. 

Please remember that it takes time to reach that place of perspective. Be patient with yourself during this process. It can take three or more years just to get past the fog and confusion of a major loss.

Love is not a contract in which one party must fulfill its obligations in order to receive love. I’m really grateful that God wants a relationship with us and not just lists of responsibilities we must fulfill in order to earn His love.

Please keep reminding yourself, God loves you and yours even more than you are capable of and is no doubt working in their hearts and lives. And if you are praying diligently for them, you truly are doing everything you can for them.

I’m so grateful that once we’re done with this cursed earth and have our resurrected, fully redeemed bodies and minds on the New Earth there will no longer be anything negative to think about.