As an adolescent, my mother always told me never to settle for less than what I deserve. At 16 years old, I didn't fully grasp her plea, but, as a 21-year-old college student, I'm grateful that she continuously urged me to have standards and set boundaries. I see women failing to demand respect or posses self-respect every day, and that habit is quite possibly one of the most detrimental.

I may be stealing this from all of the mothers in the world, but here's my advice: don't settle. Don't settle for a guy who doesn't see your worth. Don't settle for a friend who's only a friend out of convenience. Don't settle for those who don't build you up, help you grow (mentally, emotionally, and spiritually), and pour into you daily. Don't.

I've always been a huge advocate for high standards and confidence because after tasting and seeing God's love, I understand that I only want what He wants in and for my life. I can assure you, He doesn't want you settling for someone who consistently attempts to pull you away from the grace and love He bestows daily.

What God does want for your life is Himself. He wants you to draw near to Him. You are His daughter, and He loves you unconditionally, which is much more than that guy you've been crying over can promise. I know that you think he's worth your tears and frustration because you're fighting harder than you've ever fought for what you think is true love. True love isn't what we've been told it is, though.

This is true love:

"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." -1 John 4:16

God is love. We can't know true love apart from He who first truly loved us. So this guy, even if he truly is a good person, who keeps telling you that he loves you, will never love you as much as God does. God's love is unconditional, constant, everlasting, the sweetest love we'll ever know. With that in mind, look at 1 Corinthians:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth." -1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Now, can you think back to a time when you've been imapatient, rude, irritable, or resentful? Because I know I can. Since love is none of those things, and God is love, that means God is none of those things. He's patient with us. He's kind to us. He truly loves us. Okay, now, look at verses 7 and 8.

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." -1 Corinthians 13:7-8

God's love endures. He Himself endures and never ends. His reign is forever over all of the Heavens and Earth. That's uplifting! So next time you're thinking of settling for less than His perfect love, I urge you to think again. Wait for the guy who reminds you of God's love for you every day. Wait for the one who will openly admit that he can never love you the way God does (because it's the truth). Wait for the man who will confess that the only reason he knows love is because God first showed it.