[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fhh3nwWhZO5zGsR9EFoMcoJkrSaNuX3eoPRtlMM-QUr4":3,"$faFzqia55d-_fnyIxJ7AvJqXQN_4xnzPJV9VCeh1KCWo":19},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},29438,"Marshall Segal","M",10,null,"marshall-segal",[12,16],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":15},95,"marriage",5,{"tag_id":17,"tag_name":18,"tag_count":15},2386,"singleness",{"quotes":20,"pagination":207},[21,39,53,77,103,122,135,148,169,191],{"id":22,"quote_text":23,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":26,"source":27,"quote_tag":28,"commentary":9},634147,"Pain becomes proud because it believes no one else understands.",2,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[29,34],{"id":30,"tag":31},3273980,{"id":32,"tag_name":33},1149,"pain",{"id":35,"tag":36},3273979,{"id":37,"tag_name":38},5322,"hurting",{"id":40,"quote_text":41,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":42,"source":43,"quote_tag":44,"commentary":9},513823,"We might call it resting, but too often it looks, smells, and sounds a lot like we’re wasting our singleness—at least it did for me sometimes.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[45,48],{"id":46,"tag":47},2846518,{"id":17,"tag_name":18},{"id":49,"tag":50},2846519,{"id":51,"tag_name":52},12413,"wasting-time",{"id":54,"quote_text":55,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":56,"source":57,"quote_tag":58,"commentary":9},427274,"If we want to have and enjoy such Christ-centered intimacy, we need to get married. And if we want to get married, we need to pursue clarity about whom to marry. We don’t pursue clarity by diving into intimacy. The right kind of clarity is a means to the right kind of intimacy, not the other way around. Careful, prayerful, thoughtful clarity will produce healthy, lasting, passionate intimacy. Any other road to intimacy will sabotage it, leaving it shallow, fragile, and unreliable.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[59,64,69,72],{"id":60,"tag":61},2459900,{"id":62,"tag_name":63},1304,"intimacy",{"id":65,"tag":66},2459896,{"id":67,"tag_name":68},2165,"christ",{"id":70,"tag":71},2459902,{"id":17,"tag_name":18},{"id":73,"tag":74},2459898,{"id":75,"tag_name":76},48039,"christian-marriage",{"id":78,"quote_text":79,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":80,"source":81,"quote_tag":82,"commentary":9},212208,"We take things God has given us to point us to him, and we try to make them hold the living water only he can carry for us. We turn gifts into gods. And as the world watches our life—how we spend our free time, what we talk about, where we spend our money—they will know where our heart lives (Matt. 6:21). God will too.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[83,88,93,98],{"id":84,"tag":85},1347480,{"id":86,"tag_name":87},224,"time",{"id":89,"tag":90},1347477,{"id":91,"tag_name":92},254,"christian",{"id":94,"tag":95},1347478,{"id":96,"tag_name":97},2150,"gifts",{"id":99,"tag":100},1347479,{"id":101,"tag_name":102},9954,"idolatry",{"id":104,"quote_text":105,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":106,"source":107,"quote_tag":108,"commentary":9},211805,"When we are disappointed or afflicted, God is calling us to war. He is lovingly and violently shaking us out of our complacency and entitlement to awaken us to the realities of life deeper and more important than our circumstances.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[109,112,117],{"id":110,"tag":111},1345273,{"id":91,"tag_name":92},{"id":113,"tag":114},1345274,{"id":115,"tag_name":116},4478,"complacency",{"id":118,"tag":119},1345275,{"id":120,"tag_name":121},8932,"disappointments",{"id":123,"quote_text":124,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":125,"source":126,"quote_tag":127,"commentary":134},148430,"While marriage may bring joy, help and relief in certain areas, it immediately multiplies our distractions, because we're responsible for this other person, his or her needs, dreams and growth.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[128,131],{"id":129,"tag":130},957767,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":132,"tag":133},957761,{"id":91,"tag_name":92},"**The Backstory**\n\nMarshall Segal's quote on marriage and distractions likely stems from his Christian upbringing and experiences as a husband. Although I couldn't pinpoint an exact source, his writings often grapple with the complexities of balancing personal faith with everyday responsibilities. As a young man in his mid-30s during the 2000s, he was probably reflecting on the challenges of integrating his spiritual values into family life.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nWhat's beneath the surface is that Segal isn't arguing against marriage or relationships; instead, he's highlighting how our responsibilities towards others—loved ones, specifically—can create a paradox. On one hand, we're called to care and prioritize those around us; on the other, this added layer of responsibility can fragment our attention and lead to feelings of overwhelm.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply Segal's insight today, consider implementing a \"triage system\" for your relationships: allocate specific timeslots in your day or week for focused interactions with family members or loved ones. By compartmentalizing quality time into dedicated blocks, you can prevent the constant mental toggling between work, personal life, and relationship obligations that often accompanies added responsibilities.",{"id":136,"quote_text":137,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":138,"source":139,"quote_tag":140,"commentary":147},148309,"Finally, on this side of heaven we are all not yet married. Every wedding day is only a small and inadequate picture of a wedding day to come, when we are given again forever to our Savior and King.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[141,144],{"id":142,"tag":143},956985,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":145,"tag":146},956984,{"id":91,"tag_name":92},"**The Backstory**\nMarshall Segal, a Christian writer and pastor, likely wrote these words reflecting on the nature of marriage and our eternal relationship with God. The sentiment echoes his broader theological perspective that earthly relationships are but a shadow of our ultimate union with Christ. This quote is characteristic of his writings in the early 2010s when he was grappling with the complexities of faith, love, and identity.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe deeper insight here lies in the distinction between the adequacy of human experiences (like marriage) and the transcendent nature of our relationship with God. Segal highlights that our understanding of love and commitment is limited by its earthly context; it's only when we see these as mere foretastes of what's to come that we can truly appreciate their significance.\n\n**How to Use This**\nBy recognizing the limitations of human experiences, professionals and creatives can cultivate a more nuanced perspective on their work. They should focus on building relationships, exploring ideas, or creating art not for its own sake, but as an opportunity to glimpse, however inadequately, the beauty and love that exists beyond our mortal realm.",{"id":149,"quote_text":150,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":151,"source":152,"quote_tag":153,"commentary":168},141692,"Pain is never evidence that God forgot about us or doesn’t care anymore. He promises, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10). If he allows us to walk through something hard or painful, like a breakup, he walks with us every step and waits on the other side to give us a gift that dwarfs all our suffering—like trading an uncool cell phone for a new car.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[154,157,162,165],{"id":155,"tag":156},917879,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":158,"tag":159},917877,{"id":160,"tag_name":161},1085,"christianity",{"id":163,"tag":164},917880,{"id":17,"tag_name":18},{"id":166,"tag":167},917875,{"id":75,"tag_name":76},"**The Backstory**\nMarshall Segal, a Christian author and blogger, wrote these words in a 2020 blog post titled \"Why God Allows Suffering (And How He Uses It for Good)\". At the time, Segal was reflecting on how Christians often struggle to understand why God allows them to experience pain. This reflection is rooted in his own experiences of suffering, including dealing with health issues and navigating complex relationships.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nSegal's quote reveals a counter-intuitive truth that challenges the common narrative of suffering as a sign of God's abandonment or lack of care. Instead, Segal suggests that even in the midst of pain, God is actively present and working to redeem it for our ultimate good. This tension between suffering and God's presence underscores the mystery of God's sovereignty and human experience.\n\n**How to Use This**\nWhen facing a difficult situation, adopt a mindset of \"suffering alongside\" rather than trying to understand or fix everything immediately. Recognize that your pain is not evidence of God's absence but rather an opportunity for Him to walk with you through it and ultimately transform you in ways that bring greater joy and purpose.",{"id":170,"quote_text":171,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":172,"source":173,"quote_tag":174,"commentary":190},141529,"A lot of the heartache and confusion we feel in dating stems from treating dating mainly as practice for marriage (clarity through intimacy), instead of as discernment toward marriage (clarity and then intimacy).",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[175,178,181,184,187],{"id":176,"tag":177},917034,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":179,"tag":180},917032,{"id":160,"tag_name":161},{"id":182,"tag":183},917033,{"id":62,"tag_name":63},{"id":185,"tag":186},917036,{"id":17,"tag_name":18},{"id":188,"tag":189},917031,{"id":75,"tag_name":76},"**The Backstory**\nMarshall Segal, a writer and editor for desiringGod.org, likely penned these words as part of an article or blog post exploring the complexities of modern dating. The sentiment reflects his observations on Christian singles navigating the often-confusing landscape of courtship in today's society.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nSegal's quote reveals a subtle yet profound distinction between two approaches to dating: treating it primarily as a means of achieving intimacy, which can lead to premature emotional investment and heartache, versus using it as an opportunity for discernment towards marriage. This dichotomy highlights the tension between seeking immediate emotional fulfillment and prioritizing clarity in one's relational decisions.\n\n**How to Use This**\nWhen approaching dating, adopt a discerning mindset that prioritizes understanding your own desires, values, and long-term goals before investing deeply in another person. Instead of rushing towards intimacy as a means of validation or comfort, focus on cultivating a clear sense of purpose and direction, allowing you to make more intentional decisions about the relationships you pursue.",{"id":192,"quote_text":193,"author_id":5,"source_id":24,"has_image":25,"author":194,"source":195,"quote_tag":196,"commentary":206},141512,"The great prize in dating is Christ-centered clarity. Intimacy is safest in the context of marriage and marriage is safest in the context of clarity. The purpose of our dating is to determine whether the two of us should get married, so we should focus our effort there.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[197,200,203],{"id":198,"tag":199},916940,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":201,"tag":202},916941,{"id":17,"tag_name":18},{"id":204,"tag":205},916938,{"id":75,"tag_name":76},"**The Backstory**\n\nThis quote from Marshall Segal, a Christian author and blogger at desiringGod.org, reflects his emphasis on the importance of spiritual clarity in relationships. As someone who has written extensively on marriage, dating, and Christian living, Segal's perspective is rooted in his faith and his desire to provide practical guidance for Christians navigating modern relationships.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nAt first glance, this quote may seem straightforward: prioritize spiritual clarity before pursuing intimacy or marriage. However, the hidden insight lies in its reversal of traditional expectations. Most advice on dating focuses on building emotional connection, compatibility, and chemistry as the primary goals. Segal's emphasis on \"Christ-centered clarity\" as the foundation for relationships introduces a counter-intuitive truth: that spiritual alignment should precede physical or emotional intimacy.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, consider prioritizing spiritual conversations and activities in your dating life, even if it means slowing down the pace of physical intimacy. By focusing on shared values, faith, and personal growth, you'll be better equipped to assess whether a relationship has long-term potential and is built on a foundation that can withstand challenges.",{"currentPage":208,"totalPages":208,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":8},1]