My Journey of Faith: Discovering God's Perfect Plan for Love

I had been praying to God for a while about finding the right partner. I had attended almost every seminar within my reach and read as many books as I could find. I had conducted several undocumented interviews with people I held dear and valued their marriages. I didn’t even hesitate to ask those who did not have the fairy tale ending of their dreams because God told me there were things I could learn from them and not just focus on perfect marriages. All the advice, words of wisdom, and encouragement couldn't alleviate my fear of picking the wrong person, missing God’s perfect plan for me, and making myself and the other person miserable. It was a horrid situation and an unsettling feeling to have.

One day, while my parents and I were traveling back home from Abuja, the car had a tire issue. While waiting for the tire to be fixed, I stepped out of the car and decided to vent my frustration to God. It wasn't a long prayer as usual. It was short but extremely heartfelt. That day, I told God that I was tired of listening to what others had to say about marriage. I was tired of the fearful feeling in my heart, the fear of being left alone and becoming my own undoing. I was tired of reading books and going through the whole process of ensuring I was with the right person. I specifically requested that only God speak to me and address the issues and thoughts in my heart and mind.

After the tire was fixed, we continued our journey. I didn't think much about my prayer or request until I fell asleep that night.

That night, I had a dream. In the dream, I kept hearing God repeat one verse, Psalm 23:1, which says, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!" The verse seemed to stay on repeat. After a while, I found myself asking God why He was talking to me about provision? I hadn't mentioned anything about lacking food, money, or anything else, so I couldn't understand why He was evading the topic that interested me the most. Then, God asked me the following question: "Serah, what is a sheep?" I replied, "It's a dumb (animal rights people, please forgive me) animal that doesn't seem to know much. In the north, if you do something silly or stupid, your stupidity would be likened to that of a sheep." He then asked me, "Who is a shepherd?" I said, "The one who takes care of sheep, cattle, and the like." He further asked, "Between the shepherd and the sheep, who knows the way?" I said, "The shepherd." And whose duty is it to take care of the sheep, feed them, and protect them?" I said, "The shepherd." He said, "Have you ever seen a sheep having a nervous breakdown because it wonders where it will get the next blade of grass?" I said, "No!" He then said, "Serah, I am the good Shepherd. I know what you need and what you want. I will ensure that you will not lack anything, including the 14 items on your list (this surprised me because I wrote this list in my second year of college and used scripture to support each point regarding the spouse I desired). I will make sure nothing is missing. Like I said, Serah, I am your Shepherd. You shall not want. And if you ever go astray or deviate from the right path, know this, I will find you because it is the duty of the shepherd to ensure his flock is in one place and intact. When the wrong people come your way, I will use my rod and staff to guide you back on the right path and ward off any predators that may come your way. So again, Serah, I am the good Shepherd. You shall not want."

I woke up the next morning feeling very happy, excited, and grateful that God had heard me. But trust human nature, within a few weeks, I didn't see my love story changing, so I went back to God again. This time, I approached Him with frustration and accusations because I had just read the story of "Abraham finding a wife for Isaac" during my devotion (Genesis 24).

I had known this story since I was a child, but that day, after reading it, I was quite upset while praying. I told God, "Can't You see how Abraham went the extra mile to ensure that his son doesn't make a mistake and marry the wrong woman (Genesis 24:1-7)? Look at the extent a human father went to for his son. Yet, you have left me here to do all the work by myself! I'm here exhausting myself to make sure I get it right for both of us, and I don't see Your helping hand in the situation like Abraham's."

As usual, God allowed me to vent and express my thoughts before responding. He told me that since I know how to point out the things people are doing right, He would ask me if I knew what Isaac was doing when Abraham and his servant were looking for the right wife for him. Given that we had thoroughly studied the book of Genesis during Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) that year, my body went weak because I knew where the conversation was headed, and the answer to that question. For those who are too lazy to read, let me help you: I told Him that the Bible says Isaac was meditating when they brought Rebecca to him (Genesis 24:63). He said, "Good, since you know, you should go and do likewise and stop bothering me about my role and what I am or am not doing." He proceeded to tell me that, like Abraham, He had sent the Holy Spirit and His angels ahead of me to ensure that they bring and align my path with the right person. So the next time I want to tell Him His job, I should make sure I am doing mine because He is already doing His (Genesis 24:7).

I would love to tell you that I kept my peace after that, but I'm sure we all know that would be a blatant lie. However, in my defense, I was a bit better after that conversation. The rest of my encounters, I will share in other blogs (if you missed the first one, you can find it at: https://shorturl.at/DGV01), so you have to keep reading to find out how it all ends.

In the end, I realized that God's message to me was clear. He is my Shepherd, and He knows what I need and want. I don't have to fear making the wrong choices or missing out on His perfect plan for me. Just like a shepherd takes care of his sheep, God will guide and protect me, ensuring that I lack nothing. I learned the importance of meditating and seeking God's voice, rather than relying solely on the opinions of others or my own efforts.

I can't say that I instantly stopped worrying or questioning God's timing, but that conversation with Him served as a reminder to trust His guidance and believe that He is already working behind the scenes to bring the right person into my life. So, as my journey continued, I kept seeking God's wisdom, meditating on His Word, and trusting that He would lead me to the partner He has prepared for me—and He did!

 Remember, the journey of finding a life partner is unique for each individual, and trusting in God's plan can bring peace and assurance along the way.

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