One of my favorite quotes is from Zig Ziglar. He said, “The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now.” I keep this quote in front of my elliptical trainer because what I want most is to be healthy and raise a family, but what I want right now is to quit exercising. It’s true that anything worth having is worth fighting for.
When I was a teenager, I wanted to know that someday I would have a great marriage to a loving, strong man. My heart’s desire was to be married to one man for life. My plan was always to get married after I finished college. Even though I knew it was highly unlikely that I would marry someone I was dating in high school, I still felt the need to date. After all, it was fun. Or was it? If I recall, I slept with tissues next to my bed because I cried myself to sleep countless nights. I couldn’t causally date. My heart always became deeply involved – and with each break up, I damaged my heart a little bit more.
I can still feel the emotions. When adults would ask me why I felt like I had to have a boyfriend, I couldn’t explain it, but I just knew that I wanted one. In theory, I felt more secure when I had a boyfriend; but in reality, I become more insecure with each broken relationship. My faith in lasting relationships waned. There was a longing in my heart for love, but the longing was for committed, true, devoted love – not for disappearing love. I was trading what I wanted most for what I wanted right then. I was trading the hope of one amazing marriage for the momentary pleasure of a fleeting relationship.
How about you? Are you in a relationship that you know isn’t leading to marriage just so you can have someone in your life for a little while? If so, I completely understand. Maybe you’re thinking that there’s no harm in keeping someone in your life for the time being. Unfortunately, it’s not true. Each frivolous relationship we enter into does affect us. Some affect us mildly and others change our lives and the way we see ourselves and the world.
If you are still waiting for God to bring you and your future spouse together, take heart – He knows your desires and He cares for you. While you’re waiting, don’t risk trading what you want most for what you want in the moment. Remain pure. Save your heart for your future husband or wife.
Are you trading what you want most for what you want right now?