The Bible says,
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 ESV
When I was a little girl, my mom and her friends used to talk a lot about one couple. This particular couple was the most amazingly loving couple you can ever find. Even as a little girl, I used to stare at them whenever they came to visit us.
The husband doesn’t put his hands to himself. He massages his wife’s legs or her shoulder, or caresses her hair. If anybody comments about her dress or style, he will take the stage to talk about how beautiful his wife is.
So, when I was daydreaming of growing up and getting married, I used to daydream of having a marriage just like them; a husband who doesn’t put his hands to himself.
Then one day, I remember that day as if it was yesterday, I heard my mom saying this to one of her sisters about this particular couple, about the wife, saying, “Do you know that she had been praying about marriage since she was twelve years old?”
I mean, I was standing there, hearing them talking about how “my dream marriage” can come into reality. So, I said to myself, “Bingo! This is it! I will definitely start praying about my marriage starting today,” because happy marriage was my heart desire.
Imagine, I had no knowledge of Christ I have now but I used to have a regular prayer time. I used to pray to anyone and everyone. If I hear one story of a saint who went to heaven praying in a cave without eating and drinking, I used to pray to that saint, thinking that she/he could hear my prayer and deliver my prayers to God. I didn’t know that God had given me His only Son, Christ, as my intercessor:
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. ” 1 Timothy 2:5-6 NASB
And it says, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:33-34 NASB
You see, I didn’t know I had the One name through which I could directly go to God. So, without knowing to whom I needed to pray, I began praying about my future husband.
Then after Christ came to my heart, I began to pray directly to God through the Name of Jesus Christ, as the word of God says:
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14 NASB
And the word of God says, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NASB
Then as I started learning about the truth of God, I stopped lots of my prayers which were not according to the Word and Will of God but continued praying. And the one prayer that had stayed with me was asking God about my future husband.
The funny thing is this: You know how sometimes you catch yourself praying unconsciously, without thinking or knowing what you are saying?
Well, after I got married, I used to catch myself praying for my future husband. That particular prayer was part of me.
Praise the LORD! God made my man pursue and marry me a long time ago and I can’t tell you how thankful I am of My Berhan, my husband. He doesn’t massage my legs everywhere we go, but he sure expresses his love to me in ways I want, understand and appreciate.
So, the one thing I advise young people to do is to pray for their future wife/husband without ceasing. But do you know what I found out recently?
Well, many people don’t believe in prayer. They hear my advice and they believe it is a good advice but most people don’t really put that advice into practice, and I don’t know why.
Well, if you are single and don’t pray about your future spouse, let me remind you of one truth:
There is a God in heaven in heaven who hears our prayers; a God who hears and answers our prayers. So, pray without ceasing or until you receive it.
“Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB
Why? Because the word of God is true! As long as we pray according to His Will and Word, He sure answers all our prayers.
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NASB
So, young people, please don’t ever forget this: “according to His will.”
Our loving Heavenly Father answers our prayers saying, “Yes, I will give you because it is good for you” or “No, because what you’re asking is not good for you” or “Wait for the right time.” And His answers are always good for us who desire His glory in everything we do and say. ///