This conversation hit deep as Annie opened up about navigating singleness into her 40s. For so many of us, this isn’t what we pictured—and there’s real grief in letting go of timelines: “My counselor had me grieve that I would never be a wife or a mom in my 20s or 30s.” If you’re in this place, the first invitation is to let yourself grieve, because holding onto those unmet hopes is essential for moving forward honestly.

But here’s the hope ANNIE SHARED—God’s invitation is not always that your story will look the way you thought, but that He will “ring out” every bit of purpose and goodness from the season you’re in. Annie’s words: “This season won't last forever...so let God use it ALL before it's done.” Whether singleness lasts another year or another decade, abundant life is on the table—yes, even now.

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One of the most challenging parts of waiting and disappointment in dating is not letting your heart grow hard. Annie and the crew got real about how easy it is to slip into bitterness toward men, negative language, or just shutting your heart off. Annie shared: “Words have the power of life and death—I’m not going to be the one who kills any single guys in my life by the things I say.”

Instead, they challenge us to speak hope over ourselves and others, refuse to generalize all men or all women, and remember—you only need one good guy, not a bunch! Annie and her friends even committed to not say anything negative about men for 100 days, and saw the shift that brought in both their own hearts and their community.

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Singleness can make you fiercely independent out of necessity—but Annie encourages us not to become so comfortable and self-protective that we stop putting ourselves out there: “I will not get what I want if I don’t put myself out there.” Protect your peace, yes, but don’t let peace become a wall that keeps out vulnerability or the possibility of love.

Being honest with God in disappointment, heartbreak, and loneliness is part of a healthy journey. Annie says, “Sometimes I wonder why God didn’t protect me; but every relationship that doesn’t work out is a protection too.” Let yourself feel the hard, process with Jesus, and stay in community—it moves those heartbreaks from being black holes to spaces where God can heal and transform.

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HOD family, whether you feel stuck, unseen, hopeful, or burned out, this conversation is a warm reminder that nothing is wasted in God’s hands. Singleness, dating heartbreaks, and the sometimes-complicated, beautiful process of figuring out who you are and what you want are ALL meaningful. Let God “ring out” this season for everything it’s worth, keep putting yourself out there, and trust that abundant life is not on pause.

Send this episode to a friend who needs some hope, some laughs, and maybe a little perspective shift. We’re rooting for you, praying for you, and believing your story is good—even on the weird/funny/hard dating days.

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