Chick Flicks and the Single Girl

Once upon a time there was a magical, though rather disillusioning, land called Hollywood.

Seriously, we all know the basic plot line for the standard "chick flick." Boy and girl meet, boy and girl fall in love, a problem/obstacle arises, love conquers all, and they both live happily ever after. Forgive me for saying so, but what a load of bull. Don't get me wrong, I am a hopeless romantic, but that's not how life works. And there are some wonderful stories out there also. As a single woman who wants to be married, it is easy to get sucked into these stories. Then one day I realized something. I had started shying away from these movies and watching more action, comedy, war, and other non-chick flick genre movies. And I was happier. I was more content. I began to realize that when I watch chick flicks by myself they do to me emotionally what porn does to men physically. They leave me emotionally down and discontent, frustrated, and yearning for something that is not what God has for me at this point in my life. Yes, I still desire a relationship and marriage and my own family, but it is different. Watching these movies I come away going "Ugh. I want a man like _*insert leading male name here*_," which, of course, I don't actually want. So I have mostly cut these movies out of my life, though I do occasionally watch one with friends. Am I condemning these movies and saying it is sinful to watch chick flicks? No, that's not what I'm saying at all. I think the effect of these movies varies from girl to girl, I am just making observations based on my own heart.

There is, however, one movie that I would put in the romance category that is an exception. This movie, I love. It is called One Night With the King. It is the story of Esther. Now, most people don't think of the story of Esther as a love story and judging it by traditional standards, it isn't terribly romantic. In fact, it was terrifying and painful. When King Xerxes queen was banished and he needed a new queen, Esther was ripped from her home and forced to live in the palace and prepare for the selection process. After weeks and weeks of beauty treatments and lessons each candidate was given one night with the king in which to try to win him. What you may not think about is this: whichever women had their night with the king but were not chosen were no longer maidens and therefore no longer marriageable. Those who went before the one that was chosen became royal concubines. They never saw their families or had their own lives again. Terrifying. But God left His divine fingerprints all over this story. He knew what evil stirred in the heart of Haman and how driven he was for vengeance against the Jews. He brought Esther into the palace, opened the heart of the man in charge of the candidates and made him favor her, and stirred in the king's heart to choose her. He brought them together as husband and wife and later when the Jews were in danger, he moved in the kings heart to spare Esther's life, hear her story and request, and believe her. There was fear, there was anger, there was betrayal, there was misunderstanding, there was terror, but there was also faithfulness. Through their love story, God saved an entire people. I watch that movie and instead of thinking "Ugh I want a man like that," I am thinking, "Oh Lord, I want you to write my love story." Do I want the lives of an entire people group relying on it? No, most definitely not. Do I want the fear, the agony, the misunderstanding, the betrayal? Well no, but that's part of life. Marriage isn't happily ever after. Yes, there is happiness and there is blessing, but there's rough stuff too. Do I want the opportunity to engage in that ministry and the strength and courage to be faithful in every way to my God and my husband? Absolutely. I don't want Esther's story, but I want her Author.

So which would you rather have? A love story written by the Hollywood folks or one written by God Himself? One where the goal is to sell the story or where the goal is to work all things for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose? One where the aim is to make money or to give glory to God? Which one do you want?

"It takes the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the honor of kings to seek it out." I want God to conceal and guard my heart. And honestly, I can't wait to see the man He has chosen for me who has the honor of a king.