You’ve done that plenty of times before … going out on dates with people you barely know, then spending every waking moment talking, texting, and planning a future together before you even know each other’s middle names. And always with the same results—disappointment, regret, and dashed hopes.

Should you just keep to yourself, hoping God will mysteriously drop Mr./Ms. Right next to you by the banana bin at the grocery store, your eyes catching as you reach for the same bunch? It seems to work for those folks over in Hollywood. But this time, you’ve decided you want to do it God’s way because you’ve made too many mistakes rushing ahead of Him before.

On the other hand, what if you miss the boat?

In this heroic decision to wait completely on God, the days, months, and maybe years go by while you’ve done everything short of checking yourself in to a monastery (or the equivalent). But the doorbell never rings, and the produce section never produces. What if there was more you should have done? How do you know for sure?

BUT … wait! Before you cruise down the produce aisle, check out some reasons why dating is not the move for you right now.

- God has impressed upon you not to get involved with anyone for a (specified or unspecified) reason or length of time
- God has instructed you to allow the opportunity for your unmarried ex-spouse to reconcile with you (this is normally the rule, not the exception)
- You’re not completely healed emotionally from past relationships (angry, depressed, needy, or bitter)
- You’re insecure or hoping another person will complete you (emotionally, financially, or spiritually) or make you happy
- You’re not “technically” divorced
- You’re rebounding from another relationship
- You have a history of choosing “losers” and haven’t figured out why or how to stop the cycle

For the few who are left, we can now safely answer the question … to date or not to date?