I have kept this "love story in the making" treasured in my heart until now, where God is now directing me to share my beautiful testament of God's love and faithfulness with you.

 

I was a typical teenager, but with one exception. Others my age were planning their weekends and going on dates, and I spent my weekends at home. I always felt like an outsider looking in. I was overweight and had never gone on a date.  I thought if I was skinnier, or taller, then maybe someone would like me and ask me out.

 

I remember lying in my bed crying and thinking I would never get a boyfriend. Little did I know, my Mom overheard me  crying out to God. The Lord spoke to her that night and what He said changed my way of thinking and the way I look at dating. I thought the problem was with me, but it was not. God spoke to my Mom and told her that He had my mate picked out and He would send him forth in His timing.

 

My perspective began to change and I realized that God was protecting me and saving me for the one He had chose. The Lord began to shift my focus and I found myself seeking more of Him.

 

He began to reveal Himself to me in such a way that it left me longing for a more intimate relationship with Him and  that left me content with being single. I started having dates with God  and He was the perfect Gentleman. He was patient as I was learning how to keep my focus on Him. He was forgiving when I would start to stray away and He was gentle in tugging at my heart to return. His love for me was unending and unconditional.

 

As I began to grow in Him, I began to see dating differently and decided I was saying goodbye to dating.

 

 I trusted God in every area of my life and made the decision to trust Him for my spouse as well. I made the vow at 15 years of age to trust God completely for sending my mate, so I promised to wait in every area and aspect of the word "wait."

 

You see when you date outside of God's will, you set yourself and the person your with up for being hurt when it doesn't work out and if you have sex with them, then you have soul ties that you have to deal with later down the road when you break up. I did not won't to set me or anyone else up for failure and the chance of hurting both of us when it did not work out and so I chose to wait.

 

My stance on waiting went further than just that. I made the choice to not date, kiss or have sex, but to save ALL of myself for that man of God that the Lord had already set apart just for me. The scripture Proverbs 18:22 "When a man FINDS a wife" was my encourager and go-to scripture when the wait got tough and believe me it DID and still gets TOUGH. Many sleepless nights, many weekends spent at home alone, many nights crying myself to sleep or just crying out "where is he, Lord".

 

That scripture stood out to me and reminded me that I didn't have to go out looking for a man, but in God's time, He would send him to FIND ME.

 

The "wait" has been longer than I thought or planned, harder than I ever imagined, but better than I could EVER dream.

 

It has given me much time to spend alone with God and has increased my faith in Him and His timing. It has given Him the time He needed to do a work in and through me and to prepare myself for my husband and marriage and the work He has called me to do. Time for Him to cultivate His gifts He has stirring in me.

 

I can honestly say that 22 years into my promise, I have NEVER regretted my decision and thank God for giving me the faith and the endurance to continue to stand and believe, even when that meant I stood alone.

 

I know that everyone wants to feel and hear that they're beautiful and too many times they turn to the opposite sex to make them feel that way and to feel loved. I want you, who are reading this, to know that you are a child of God and are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:14. You are loved so much by the One who formed you and created you in His image. Genesis 1:27

 

You are more precious than jewels. Proverbs 3:15

 

 You are worth waiting on.

 

God has someone He has handpicked just for you.

 

Until God unfolds your beautiful "love story", I encourage you to spend this time pursuing God and allow Him to change your focus and your life, just like He did mine.

 

I look forward to seeing how God unfolds my "love story" and how He uses it for His glory and to help teach others about the importance and beauty in waiting.

 

I pray my testimony ministered to you and encourages you to not only wait on God, but also to seek Him while in the waiting season.

 

God bless.