I Did the Work—Then Life Changed

Months ago, I wrote about preparing myself instead of praying for a spouse. At the time, there was no person on the horizon. No timeline. No guarantee. Just obedience. Just work. Just letting the Lord do what He does best—shape me without explaining the outcome.

I didn’t know then that I would soon be standing on the edge of a new chapter with a woman I’m preparing to marry.

And that matters.

Because it means the work wasn’t transactional. It wasn’t preparation with a hidden demand attached. It was surrender. It was alignment. It was saying, “Lord, if nothing changes externally, let something change in me.”

So much has changed since that post.

But one thing hasn’t.

The Lord is still the center.

Let’s Be Honest About God’s Hand

No—the Lord did not pick my spouse like a name drawn from a hat. I won’t rewrite theology to make my story sound cleaner.

But I would be dishonest if I didn’t say I see His hand all over our meeting.

I see it in the timing.

I see it in the friendship that formed before expectations did.

I see it in the ease, the safety, the laughter, the steadiness.

Not fireworks. Not chaos. Not emotional whiplash.

Peace.

Scripture reminds us, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23, CSB).

It doesn’t say He scripts every choice—but it does say He guides the path of those who walk with Him.

And I walked.

Why Do We Sabotage What We Prayed For?

This is the part we don’t like to talk about.

Why is it that when the answer comes, we suddenly pick up the talking points of doubt?

We prayed for healing—then questioned whether it would last.

We prayed for opportunity—then wondered if we deserved it.

We prayed for love—then interrogated it with fear.

We use yesterday’s wounds to cross-examine today’s blessing.

James writes, “A doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6, CSB).

Doubt doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes it sounds reasonable. Responsible. Wise.

But fear dressed as wisdom will still steal your joy.

Moving Forward Without Apology

I choose to move forward thankful.

Not blindly.

Not recklessly.

Not pretending life is perfect.

But honestly grateful.

Grateful that preparation mattered.

Grateful that obedience wasn’t wasted.

Grateful that God doesn’t rush His process just because we’re tired of waiting.

What I wrote months ago still stands: preparing yourself matters.

And now I can say this too—preparation doesn’t cancel blessing; it positions you to recognize it.

Before You Go

If you’re in the waiting season, don’t rush it.

If you’re in the answered season, don’t sabotage it.

And if you’re somewhere in between, let the Lord stay at the center—without trying to control the outcome.

Sometimes the prayer isn’t just answered.

Sometimes it’s honored.