September 2026
Issue 246

Do you catastrophize?

What's not so easy is to stop doing it.

I'll confess upfront that at 75 years of age, I'm still struggling with this bad habit. Whenever my cherished routine gets disturbed, I run around like a chicken with its head cut off. Well, okay, I don't actually do that. I haven't run for years. But still, my mind goes in directions it shouldn't.

This is a common problem among all people but especially us singles because we don't have a spouse to calm us down and tell us it's not the end of the world. If you read the Bible, however, you know Jesus told us that 2,000 years ago. We just tend to forget it.

The strategies for managing this habit are solid; we need to remember them and apply them in the real world. Follow along with me in September's feature article as we study how NOT to catastrophize.

I will keep on

Somehow I expected better,
though I am just
a lowly debtor.

As His child I pay a cost,
with all the things
that I have lost.

I have struggled all my days,
but still can't
understand His ways.

This is not how life should be.
Is there something
more for me?

I ask myself,
"What should I do?"

You are my God:
I'll trust in you.

Yes, I will keep on
trusting you.

~ Jack Zavada, inspiration-for-singles.com, 2026 ~

FR/EE ebooklet: Psalms for Singles

Psalms for Singles is a new, 4-page ebooklet you can download f/ree. It lists a variety of problems common to single people, followed by the numbers of psalms to read on that topic. Simply go to your Bible, turn to that psalm, and pray it back to the Lord.

This helpful ebooklet is in the universal PDF format and is an encouraging tool when you can't put your own thoughts into words.

To get your f/ree download, go to Psalms for Singles.

FOMO on the good life?

We waste so much time wrestling with problems that hold us back. We'd step out more if we had higher self-esteem. We'd be happier if we could manage our loneliness. We'd take more chances if we weren't hampered by fear…and on and on.

Hope for Hurting Singles is for you if you feel you're missing out.

Its proven, common-sense solutions came from the author's 45+ years in the single life, using the time-honored but painful process of trial and error.

But he banged his own head against the wall, not yours! That means you benefit from his research— without the terrible headaches.

This stuff works for one important reason: It's based on biblical principles. You won't find any New Age mantras or psychobabble here. It's scriptural and real-world practical.

Hope for Hurting Singles is the antidote to FOMO. Get it. Try it at your own pace. See how God wants to turn you into a more confident person.

The paperback is $10.99 and the Kindle version is $3.99. You'll be glad you did!

FOMO on Hope for Hurting Singles? Then order your copy right now!

Believe God in spite of everything

But it's not about money. It's about an eternity with the Savior who satisfies every need we'll ever have.

We get loony expectations because the stink of the Prosperity Gospel rubs off on us True Believers. We make the mistake of thinking we should catch all the breaks, get a barnful of God's "favor," or fly around in private jets.

Here's what Jesus said:

"Then he (Jesus) said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.'" (Luke 9:22-24, NIV)

Don't pay attention to billionaires or your neighbors who think they're living their best life now. You are on your way to heaven, so believe God.

September QOTM: Learn this now

How I wish I had learned that in my 20s! I would have spared myself a trainload of grief. Even today I have to struggle with my reactions to disappointments and hurts. Are you the same way?

We survive. Somehow, despite all the figurative rocks that are thrown at us, we survive and go on, and if we can do it without catastrophizing every problem, we'll be a lot happier along the way.

The big "How?" In these situations is to remember 1) God is in control; 2) God can be trusted.

Stepping out in faith is part of the Christian adventure, but I can tell you from experience that it's much better to take that leap of faith in the now than to look back ten years later and say, "I wish I had…"

Quotes for women will pick up your spirits

This new page features a giant variety of wise sayings, ranging from funny to inspirational. You'll recognize some of the people quoted while others are more…obscure. I hand-picked all of them to give you an effective dose of pick-me-up relief.

Take a 10-minute vacation with our new pick me up quotes for women.

Who this thing is really about…

But you don't have to read very far here to run into Jesus Christ. That's because his way is the wisest, and the only path that leads to eternal life. I have never apologized for building the site around him, but over the years I have lost many visitors who are offended at his name. I have to remind myself frequently that the web site and these newsletters are not about me. They're about you and about Jesus.

Jesus is so different from today's world that he stands out as a brilliant beacon of hope. In a realm of AI slop articles and clickbait come-ons, Jesus speaks the word of life. He cuts through the clutter because Jesus is God.

I know sometimes I'm preaching to the choir, that most readers of this newsletter are already committed Christians. But some of you have not received Jesus as Lord and Savior yet. The P.S. of this issue includes a link that shows you how to do that.

Despite our disappointments as singles, we carry on. God can turn a life around in an instant. We know heaven will wipe away all the unsatisfied needs we have had here. If we read the Bible, we will meet Jesus there and realize he has fulfilled his promise to come and live within us. It's an astounding thing.

Ours is not a "grin and bear it" life, because Christ does bring peace and meaning. Don't be fooled by your circumstances. You are accepted and deeply loved.

Thanks again for letting me visit you this month. If you would forward this newsletter to a friend, it might reach them at a critical moment and touch their heart.

5 keys to stop rotten thoughts

The good news is God has given us the Holy Spirit as a guardian to spot and stop those mental detours. We don't need to go there.

Monitoring your thought life becomes more and more important as we deal with the firehose of information that bombards us every day.

Social media is a subtle culprit. As we read of the vacations, new cars, and achievements of our friends, we can feel like those things are the most important markers of a successful life.

They're not. It's a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we focus on that, we're doing some worthwhile thinking. Go after those treasures that last for eternity. The only thing you can take with you when you die is your character.

If you want to catch yourself before you wander too far down the path of destructive comparisons, here are 5 keys to stop rotten thoughts.

Ask God to help these singles

Answered prayer brings an explosion of joy, both in the recipient and the pray-er. But it's also about giving of ourselves for sisters and brothers who are hurting.

Here are September's prayer requests:

Annie: For a friend's return to church.

Sharon: For work and opportunities to serve.

Natalie: Freedom from pride, anger, despondency, shame and depression.

Dawn: Peace, calm, direction.

Lisa: Physical healing for her brother.

Jenny: Emotional healing.

Cherlyn: Physical and emotional healing.

If you'd like to be listed on the Inspire-O-Gram prayer list, send your request through our secure Contact Form..

That concludes the September issue, single friend. I'll leave you with a little experiment. In the next couple weeks, do something kind for at least one person. You'll make their day, and God will smile down on you!

Until October,

PS: Not a Christian yet? Find out how to become a Christian.