1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,879 The hopeless romantic. You've probably heard the term, 2 00:00:02,879 --> 00:00:05,279 and if you're single and dating in the 3 00:00:05,279 --> 00:00:07,919 Christian world, you may even be one, but 4 00:00:07,919 --> 00:00:10,580 what exactly is a hopeless romantic, especially 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:12,339 from a Christian perspective? 6 00:00:12,705 --> 00:00:14,884 Is it a bad thing, a good thing, 7 00:00:14,945 --> 00:00:17,345 or just something that requires a little guidance 8 00:00:17,345 --> 00:00:18,005 and prayer? 9 00:00:18,704 --> 00:00:21,744 Let's dive in. A hopeless romantic is someone 10 00:00:21,744 --> 00:00:24,704 who absolutely loves the idea of love. They 11 00:00:24,704 --> 00:00:26,804 often dream about the perfect relationship, 12 00:00:27,140 --> 00:00:29,719 the fairy tale ending, and let's be honest, 13 00:00:30,099 --> 00:00:32,179 long walks on the beach while holding hands 14 00:00:32,179 --> 00:00:35,219 under the sunset. Cue the romantic music. And 15 00:00:35,219 --> 00:00:37,399 while there's nothing wrong with appreciating romance, 16 00:00:37,780 --> 00:00:40,739 being a hopeless romantic can sometimes lead to 17 00:00:40,739 --> 00:00:41,239 unrealistic 18 00:00:41,619 --> 00:00:42,119 expectations, 19 00:00:42,575 --> 00:00:44,655 especially when it comes to Christian dating. You 20 00:00:44,655 --> 00:00:46,734 see, being a hopeless romantic as a Christian 21 00:00:46,734 --> 00:00:49,695 means you not only want that deep soul 22 00:00:49,695 --> 00:00:52,015 stirring love, but you also want it to 23 00:00:52,015 --> 00:00:54,754 reflect the beauty and sacredness of a relationship 24 00:00:55,214 --> 00:00:56,340 centered on Christ. 25 00:00:57,140 --> 00:00:59,380 And let's face it, those two things don't 26 00:00:59,380 --> 00:01:01,619 always come in the same package. So what 27 00:01:01,619 --> 00:01:04,200 exactly are the signs of a hopeless romantic 28 00:01:04,659 --> 00:01:07,620 in the Christian dating world? Here are 10 29 00:01:07,620 --> 00:01:09,479 signs you might be a hopeless 30 00:01:09,780 --> 00:01:10,280 romantic 31 00:01:10,634 --> 00:01:12,954 with a good dose of humor and some 32 00:01:12,954 --> 00:01:15,754 solid biblical wisdom to help you keep your 33 00:01:15,754 --> 00:01:16,575 heart grounded. 34 00:01:17,594 --> 00:01:18,094 One, 35 00:01:18,474 --> 00:01:20,795 you love a good proposal video and maybe 36 00:01:20,795 --> 00:01:22,254 have cried over a few. 37 00:01:23,834 --> 00:01:26,229 Let's be real. Real. If you're a hopeless 38 00:01:26,229 --> 00:01:29,269 romantic, you've definitely spent more time than you'd 39 00:01:29,269 --> 00:01:32,310 like to admit watching elaborate proposal videos on 40 00:01:32,310 --> 00:01:32,810 YouTube. 41 00:01:33,109 --> 00:01:35,769 The ones with the flash mobs, surprise serenades, 42 00:01:36,149 --> 00:01:37,049 and dramatic 43 00:01:37,349 --> 00:01:38,444 tears of joy. 44 00:01:39,004 --> 00:01:40,765 Yep, you've seen them all and you might 45 00:01:40,765 --> 00:01:43,745 even keep tissues nearby for the inevitable waterworks. 46 00:01:44,204 --> 00:01:45,265 But here's the thing, 47 00:01:45,564 --> 00:01:48,844 while grand gestures are lovely, they aren't the 48 00:01:48,844 --> 00:01:51,885 foundation of a biblical marriage. In first Peter 49 00:01:51,885 --> 00:01:53,344 four eight, we're reminded 50 00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:57,140 that above all, love each other deeply because 51 00:01:57,140 --> 00:02:00,119 love covers over a multitude of sins. 52 00:02:00,579 --> 00:02:03,479 Real love goes beyond the Instagram worthy moments. 53 00:02:03,619 --> 00:02:06,674 It's about loving your partner deeply every day, 54 00:02:06,995 --> 00:02:09,735 not just during a perfectly choreographed proposal. 55 00:02:10,995 --> 00:02:13,474 Two, you write love letters in your head 56 00:02:13,474 --> 00:02:15,014 to your future spouse. 57 00:02:16,514 --> 00:02:19,395 Ever catch yourself daydreaming about the day you'll 58 00:02:19,395 --> 00:02:22,409 finally meet your future spouse? Maybe you've even 59 00:02:22,409 --> 00:02:25,209 drafted mental love letters to them, just waiting 60 00:02:25,209 --> 00:02:26,810 for the moment when you can put them 61 00:02:26,810 --> 00:02:29,289 to paper. And hey, nothing wrong with writing 62 00:02:29,289 --> 00:02:31,530 a love letter. But let's keep it real 63 00:02:31,530 --> 00:02:33,849 for a second. As wonderful as it is 64 00:02:33,849 --> 00:02:35,629 to dream about your future relationship, 65 00:02:35,930 --> 00:02:38,724 it's important to trust God's timing and plan. 66 00:02:39,025 --> 00:02:42,465 Proverbs sixteen:nine says, in their hearts, humans plan 67 00:02:42,465 --> 00:02:45,444 their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. 68 00:02:45,905 --> 00:02:48,064 So while you can dream, make sure your 69 00:02:48,064 --> 00:02:50,329 focus is on walking faithfully with God in 70 00:02:50,329 --> 00:02:50,989 the present. 71 00:02:51,930 --> 00:02:55,150 Three, you believe in the one and only 72 00:02:55,370 --> 00:02:56,109 the one. 73 00:02:57,689 --> 00:03:00,009 A hopeless romantic tends to believe that there 74 00:03:00,009 --> 00:03:02,489 is exactly one person out there who is 75 00:03:02,489 --> 00:03:05,134 destined to be their perfect match. While it's 76 00:03:05,134 --> 00:03:07,694 sweet to think about the one, this idea 77 00:03:07,694 --> 00:03:09,794 can sometimes be a little misleading. 78 00:03:10,414 --> 00:03:10,914 Why? 79 00:03:11,455 --> 00:03:13,775 Because it puts an incredible amount of pressure 80 00:03:13,775 --> 00:03:16,894 on finding someone who meets every criteria on 81 00:03:16,894 --> 00:03:17,550 your list. 82 00:03:18,110 --> 00:03:20,930 The Bible offers a different perspective on marriage. 83 00:03:21,229 --> 00:03:24,189 Instead of focusing on finding the one, we're 84 00:03:24,189 --> 00:03:26,050 encouraged to love selflessly. 85 00:03:26,830 --> 00:03:28,689 Ephesians five twenty five instructs, 86 00:03:28,990 --> 00:03:32,030 husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved 87 00:03:32,030 --> 00:03:34,884 the church and gave himself up for her. 88 00:03:35,585 --> 00:03:38,865 It's about sacrificial love and devotion, not a 89 00:03:38,865 --> 00:03:39,764 perfect checklist. 90 00:03:41,185 --> 00:03:41,685 Four, 91 00:03:42,305 --> 00:03:44,724 you picture every first date as the beginning 92 00:03:44,759 --> 00:03:45,500 of a fairy 93 00:03:45,959 --> 00:03:46,459 tale. 94 00:03:47,319 --> 00:03:49,639 If you find yourself planning the wedding after 95 00:03:49,639 --> 00:03:51,719 a really good first date, you might be 96 00:03:51,719 --> 00:03:54,120 a hopeless romantic. It's easy to get caught 97 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:56,199 up in the excitement and wonder if this 98 00:03:56,199 --> 00:03:58,454 person could be the one that God has 99 00:03:58,454 --> 00:04:01,014 prepared for you. You're practically picking out baby 100 00:04:01,014 --> 00:04:03,574 names before dessert. While there's nothing wrong with 101 00:04:03,574 --> 00:04:06,715 being hopeful, it's important to remember that relationships 102 00:04:06,935 --> 00:04:08,634 take time and effort. 103 00:04:09,030 --> 00:04:11,829 First Corinthians thirteen four to seven tells us 104 00:04:11,829 --> 00:04:13,370 that love is patient, 105 00:04:13,829 --> 00:04:17,110 love is kind, it does not envy, it 106 00:04:17,110 --> 00:04:20,550 does not boast, it is not proud. So 107 00:04:20,550 --> 00:04:21,529 take it slow, 108 00:04:21,990 --> 00:04:25,394 allow the relationship to grow, and focus on 109 00:04:25,394 --> 00:04:27,175 building a solid foundation 110 00:04:27,475 --> 00:04:29,574 before rushing into the future. 111 00:04:31,074 --> 00:04:34,995 Five. You've read every Christian romance novel and 112 00:04:34,995 --> 00:04:37,334 probably have opinions on all the characters. 113 00:04:39,069 --> 00:04:42,129 Christian romance novels can be lovely with characters 114 00:04:42,189 --> 00:04:43,649 who overcome obstacles, 115 00:04:44,189 --> 00:04:44,930 find faith, 116 00:04:45,230 --> 00:04:48,129 and fall in love. What's not to enjoy? 117 00:04:48,189 --> 00:04:50,670 But if you find yourself comparing every date 118 00:04:50,670 --> 00:04:52,985 to the fictional lead in your favorite book, 119 00:04:52,985 --> 00:04:54,284 we may have a problem. 120 00:04:54,664 --> 00:04:57,404 In real life, relationships are messy, imperfect, 121 00:04:57,865 --> 00:05:00,764 and require more than just a great storyline. 122 00:05:01,384 --> 00:05:04,104 James one twenty two encourages us to be 123 00:05:04,104 --> 00:05:06,685 doers of the word and not hearers only. 124 00:05:07,039 --> 00:05:09,039 It's good to enjoy a Christian love story, 125 00:05:09,039 --> 00:05:11,199 but we should also focus on living out 126 00:05:11,199 --> 00:05:14,180 biblical love in real life. That means forgiveness, 127 00:05:14,479 --> 00:05:14,979 grace, 128 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,660 and yes, sometimes even conflict resolution. 129 00:05:20,095 --> 00:05:20,595 Six, 130 00:05:21,134 --> 00:05:23,214 you believe in love at first sight or 131 00:05:23,214 --> 00:05:24,115 at least really, 132 00:05:24,654 --> 00:05:26,274 really hope it's real. 133 00:05:27,375 --> 00:05:30,735 Hopeless romantics love the idea of locking eyes 134 00:05:30,735 --> 00:05:34,180 across a crowded room and knowing instantly that 135 00:05:34,180 --> 00:05:36,040 this person is the one. 136 00:05:36,419 --> 00:05:38,740 You probably hope for that magical movie style 137 00:05:38,740 --> 00:05:41,639 moment where time slows down, the music swells, 138 00:05:41,699 --> 00:05:44,419 and boom, you're in love. But real love 139 00:05:44,419 --> 00:05:46,819 usually doesn't happen in a single moment. It's 140 00:05:46,819 --> 00:05:49,824 built over time through trust, communication, and shared 141 00:05:49,824 --> 00:05:50,324 experiences. 142 00:05:50,785 --> 00:05:53,425 Colossians three fourteen says, and over all these 143 00:05:53,425 --> 00:05:56,064 virtues put on love, which binds them all 144 00:05:56,064 --> 00:05:58,004 together in perfect unity. 145 00:05:58,464 --> 00:06:00,865 Love is something we put on, an action 146 00:06:00,865 --> 00:06:02,485 and a commitment that grows, 147 00:06:02,819 --> 00:06:04,599 not just a feeling we fall into. 148 00:06:06,099 --> 00:06:07,479 Seven, you overanalyze 149 00:06:07,939 --> 00:06:10,519 every text message for signs of true love. 150 00:06:11,779 --> 00:06:14,419 Did he use a smiley face? Was that 151 00:06:14,419 --> 00:06:15,879 emoji really necessary? 152 00:06:16,419 --> 00:06:18,039 Is she texting back quickly 153 00:06:18,435 --> 00:06:20,915 or is there a strategic pause between each 154 00:06:20,915 --> 00:06:23,714 message if you find yourself dissecting every single 155 00:06:23,714 --> 00:06:25,735 text for signs of deep affection? 156 00:06:26,194 --> 00:06:28,535 Welcome to the world of hopeless romantics. 157 00:06:28,915 --> 00:06:31,250 But let's not forget, love is about more 158 00:06:31,250 --> 00:06:33,650 than words on a screen. In Matthew seven 159 00:06:33,650 --> 00:06:36,529 twenty, Jesus reminds us, by their fruit, you 160 00:06:36,529 --> 00:06:39,970 will recognize them. It's someone's actions, how they 161 00:06:39,970 --> 00:06:43,189 treat you, how they show kindness and respect 162 00:06:43,650 --> 00:06:46,745 that truly matter in the long run. A 163 00:06:46,745 --> 00:06:49,224 well placed emoji won't tell you if they're 164 00:06:49,224 --> 00:06:50,925 the one God has for you. 165 00:06:51,784 --> 00:06:54,745 Eight, you think every wedding you attend is 166 00:06:54,745 --> 00:06:55,964 your destiny calling. 167 00:06:57,224 --> 00:06:59,384 You go to a wedding and suddenly feel 168 00:06:59,384 --> 00:07:00,604 like you're in a romantic 169 00:07:00,904 --> 00:07:01,404 comedy. 170 00:07:01,819 --> 00:07:04,319 The beautiful couple at the altar, the vows, 171 00:07:04,620 --> 00:07:07,579 the emotional speeches, your heart is bursting and 172 00:07:07,579 --> 00:07:09,819 you can't help but think, when will it 173 00:07:09,819 --> 00:07:10,720 be my turn? 174 00:07:11,180 --> 00:07:13,500 Bonus points if you've ever caught the bouquet 175 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:15,415 and saw it as a divine sign. 176 00:07:15,795 --> 00:07:18,995 While weddings are beautiful celebrations of love, they're 177 00:07:18,995 --> 00:07:21,875 not necessarily a predictor of your own future 178 00:07:21,875 --> 00:07:22,375 timeline. 179 00:07:22,995 --> 00:07:25,875 Psalm twenty seven fourteen encourages us wait for 180 00:07:25,875 --> 00:07:26,454 the Lord. 181 00:07:26,834 --> 00:07:29,154 Be strong and take heart and wait for 182 00:07:29,154 --> 00:07:29,759 the Lord. 183 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,319 God's timing for your own love story is 184 00:07:32,319 --> 00:07:35,060 unique and it's worth waiting for. 185 00:07:36,639 --> 00:07:39,120 Nine, you believe the right person will complete 186 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:39,620 you. 187 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,439 Cue the famous line from Jerry Maguire, you 188 00:07:43,439 --> 00:07:46,754 complete me. Hopeless romantics often have this idea 189 00:07:46,754 --> 00:07:49,394 that the right person will fill every empty 190 00:07:49,394 --> 00:07:51,794 space in their heart and solve all their 191 00:07:51,794 --> 00:07:52,294 problems. 192 00:07:52,595 --> 00:07:56,035 But as Christians, we know there's only one 193 00:07:56,035 --> 00:07:58,675 person who can truly complete us and it's 194 00:07:58,675 --> 00:08:00,650 not a spouse, but Jesus. 195 00:08:01,029 --> 00:08:03,770 In Colossians two ten, it says, in Christ, 196 00:08:03,910 --> 00:08:05,770 you have been brought to fullness. 197 00:08:06,150 --> 00:08:09,290 Christ completes us. Marriage is a beautiful partnership 198 00:08:09,350 --> 00:08:12,470 where you complement one another, but no human 199 00:08:12,470 --> 00:08:15,154 can fill the space only God was meant 200 00:08:15,154 --> 00:08:15,814 to occupy. 201 00:08:18,194 --> 00:08:20,915 10, you believe your love story will be 202 00:08:20,915 --> 00:08:22,535 the best of all time. 203 00:08:24,194 --> 00:08:27,814 Lastly, hopeless romantics often believe their love story 204 00:08:27,875 --> 00:08:30,560 will be the greatest of all time. A 205 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:32,980 combination of all the best romance movies 206 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:35,759 and books wrapped into one. But here's the 207 00:08:35,759 --> 00:08:38,639 reality, the greatest love story of all time 208 00:08:38,639 --> 00:08:41,120 has already been written. It's the story of 209 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,245 Christ's love for his church. Ephesians five twenty 210 00:08:44,245 --> 00:08:45,544 five to 27 211 00:08:45,764 --> 00:08:49,144 beautifully illustrates this love. Husbands, love your wives 212 00:08:49,204 --> 00:08:51,284 just as Christ loved the church and gave 213 00:08:51,284 --> 00:08:53,544 himself up for her to make her holy. 214 00:08:53,684 --> 00:08:55,960 The love story you're hoping for pales in 215 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,600 comparison to the sacrificial love Jesus has for 216 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,080 us. So while your love story might not 217 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,980 have a Hollywood script, it can still reflect 218 00:09:04,039 --> 00:09:05,820 the greatest love of all. 219 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,595 Final thoughts, hopeless romantic hopeful heart. 220 00:09:10,774 --> 00:09:14,375 Being a hopeless romantic isn't all bad. After 221 00:09:14,375 --> 00:09:16,455 all, it means you have a big heart 222 00:09:16,455 --> 00:09:18,955 full of love and hope for the future. 223 00:09:19,095 --> 00:09:21,735 But as Christian singles, it's important to balance 224 00:09:21,735 --> 00:09:24,540 that that romantic idealism with biblical wisdom and 225 00:09:24,540 --> 00:09:25,040 truth. 226 00:09:25,420 --> 00:09:27,920 Remember, real love is less about grand gestures 227 00:09:27,980 --> 00:09:29,920 and more about everyday faithfulness, 228 00:09:30,379 --> 00:09:31,759 patience, and kindness. 229 00:09:32,300 --> 00:09:35,415 So embrace the romance, enjoy the dreams, but 230 00:09:35,415 --> 00:09:38,134 let God write your love story in his 231 00:09:38,134 --> 00:09:39,115 perfect timing. 232 00:09:39,575 --> 00:09:41,575 Trust that he knows the desires of your 233 00:09:41,575 --> 00:09:45,095 heart and is preparing something far greater than 234 00:09:45,095 --> 00:09:47,815 anything you could imagine, whether or not it 235 00:09:47,815 --> 00:09:49,115 looks like the movies.