Hi Heather, I am so sorry you are feeling hurt and confused. I felt that way too, after reading this day's scripture and Raechel's devotional. I am a single woman also; in a long term relationship but we are not married and do not have children. Something that helped me was reading two comments up at the top of comments listings. Go to page 1 and see the first comment from Laura, then look at the replies to her comment for a post from Hannah and a second post from Kelly Smith. These ladies replied to me under that initial comment from Laura – ha! As if that isn’t confusing ;) I think Hannah gave a good explanation of a literary device Paul may have possibly used in verse 15 and others. She made a very valid point – that God does not want us to feel pain or confusion after spending time reading the Bible or in prayer. Kelly gave an amazing, thorough amount of detail behind Paul’s writing. Her knowledge and research is pretty remarkable. I hope their comments help to ease your mind and heart. They have certainly helped me.

No matter what our life circumstances may be, I will always believe God loves us and wants the best for us. He loves us for who we are – not based on our marital status. He will lead us through the different parts of life He wants each of us to personally experience – not what others say we should experience. He created our entire life and knows our future! It is a future for our good and His glory, no matter what happens! I believe it is very important to recognize the time and context in which these verses were written and not allow the enemy's lies to make us afraid that we are rejecting God’s will because we are single. I am also praying hard that God will guide me toward answers and I will pray for you!

My goodness. Your knowledge is pretty remarkable, Kelly. I truly appreciate your time and energy to share this with me (and everyone). I am so thankful for your kindness and especially your prayers. I have worked as a speech-language pathologist in elementary schools for 16 years, so I am invested to a large degree in the lives of children. So that's encouraging. I have a lot to pray about and discern from what I hear from God. I definitely feel that I am at a crossroads in my life but I know that God will lead me in the direction He has already planned for me. No matter what others say or what lies the enemy wants me to believe, I will always believe that God is for me, not against me, regardless of my station in life. Thank you again, so much. God bless you sister.

Thank you Hannah for your kind words, they are encouraging. Thank you for taking the time to explain synecdoche. I have re-read Raechel Myers' devotion and the verses from Timothy several times now, along with all of the many comments here. It has been a painful and confusing few days since my first read-through on Sunday but I have decided that it is in my best interest to pray and listen to what God wants to say to me, not what Raechel interprets the chosen scripture from Timothy to say about the roles for women. The more I read the devotion, I get a stronger sense that Raechel presented her own convictions and viewpoint, or that of her congregation, about the definitive role God designed women for -- as wife and mother who does not attempt to "rule over" her husband but instead follow him as he leads her in faith. It's certainly her prerogative to write what she believes to be true and since she has not responded to the many comments and questions posted here in all of the comments, it's hard to fully understand her intentions in this devotion except that we should pray for each other. On that I agree but I do not agree with the rest of her post. Not everyone has been blessed with a loving husband and children and I wish the writers would speak to that and make this community inclusive to a wider variety of women of faith. I am no longer certain that SRT is the place for me. I have been blessed by this community since finding it in 2012 but the tone of this devotion, that I am rejecting who God created me to be because I am not in the "role" Raechel says I should be in, just does not seem to be what God would say to me if He were sitting here beside me. I am praying about it.

I'm catching up on reading today and my heart hurts after reading verse 15 1 Timothy 2. At my age, in my personal circumstances, I may never have children. Typing that statement breaks my heart yet I simultaneously know a peace in my heart because God is in control of my life -- all parts of it. I'm so thankful you commented and I read it because Raechel did not mention this verse at all. I find it easy to accept the context of hard to read verses such as verses 9 and 11, written in the language of the time. Thank you for shedding light on the role of women in the time these verses were written. But what about verse 15? Many (most?) women of faith become mothers, in A.D. 62 and 2015. What about those of us that don't or can't? Will we not be saved or restored, as NIV says, without childbearing? Is this another example of context and the role of women at the time? I'll be completely honest, this verse explains much of the reason why I usually feel ostracized from women my age in churches and basically women my age in general. At 44, I feel like I'm seen as a freak show or someone to be pitied or judged because I've never had children. I've struggled greatly with self worth through my adult years and this verse, taken as it is written, validates one of my greatest fears. It's so confusing, all of it.

What a true friend we have in our Lord. He not only gave His one and only son for you, me, us ALL -- while those alive at the time were still sinners, while knowing that we who are alive now would all be born sinners -- but He continues to give us grace upon grace while we continue to sin. He loves us at our best, at our most mediocre, and at our worst. He never even blinks. Just like our best girlfriends but with infinitely more grace and love. I love to read Paul's words. Is he not the greatest preacher? He doesn't sit high and mighty on his church altar; he claims directly that he is the worst sinner of all. And then he overflows with hope and love to speak God's grace and mercy, directing us in God's law of love so that we may fight the good fight, holding on to faith, a purity of heart, and a good conscience. I have so much to learn, so far to go, but our wonderful God will see me through no matter what.

"Because of your partnership in the gospel... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1: 5-6

My goodness, God just keeps speaking directly to me day after day since Easter. Each day's chosen verses and many days of the devotional readings have spoken directly to my present need and today is no different. Thank you Lord! The verses from Colossians today are some of the most beautiful parts of the Bible, in my opinion, and so much truth in every word. So much perspective and I sorely need it. I am working hard to be present in the moment instead of chained to my thoughts of the past and my anxiety over the future. Like Tammy said above, I desperately need God to be loud in my mind and heart, to drown out the frenetic, negative thoughts and feelings churning through me. As Amanda so clearly said, I need to look up and look around, and see the beautiful forest instead of being caught up in the trees. See myself and the world the way God sees me -- to believe Him in how He sees me. This is so hard for me. But if I really believe that Christ is all and is in all, I have to believe He is in me too; no matter how I feel. I pray Lord, that You will set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. I have tried to put on a new self but keep going back to that old, troubled, dysfunctional, yet comfortable self. I want to break free of the chains I have placed in my mind and on my heart but I just can't do it by myself. I know this now. I need you Lord and the only way I can fully hear you, the only way I will truly know your peace once and for all, is to just be present now. Right now. Right here. In the moment and in every moment I'm given. You keep reminding me of this in so many ways over the past month that I can no longer keep count. I need to change, in so many ways, and I want to. I want to become the person you want me to be, Lord; forgiving as you forgive me, compassionate, kind, gentle, patient, living in love. To everyone and especially myself. Praying hard, Lord, through my fingers as I type. Please help me, Lord.

Right there with you Tammy. Praying this along with you.

Thank you so much Kristin. I truly appreciate your thoughts here and especially your prayers.

My Redeemer, my Friend, my Savior, my Teacher, my Father, my Lord, my God.... live in me!

Lord, help me to let go of my sins, my shortcomings, my mistakes. You came to make me new, I want to let you! Help me to stop clinging to my past where the lies I was told, and told myself, said I was never good enough. Remove my stony heart, lead me out of the tomb. I want to believe! Wash me clean and let me believe!