Part 1

There’s a lot of attractive singles out there. With social media, online dating, and big cities, the options for meeting “Relationship-Material” is practically infinite. Compare this to pre-1900 when you were mostly limited to marrying one of a few people in your small village or town!

So, chances are there’s many options available to you.

Most of the world will marry the “first available”… the first person who is compatible enough that a marriage can work. Even though that person may be a “good choice” they’re probably not the “best choice”.

So how do you know who’s the best choice? How do we even know God has a best for us?

There’s a gem hidden in the story of Adam and Eve that sheds light on how God intended for things to work (you know, before counterfeits and sin messed everything up).

God forms Eve from Adams rib and brought her to Adam. The Hebrew word “brought” means that God brought Eve to Adam and “showed her off” or in a more literal sense, it means to “put on display”.

“Adam, come and see what I have for you…. this is the last thing I will create and in her I have deposited the jewel of all My creation.”

Think about that for a second. God didn’t force them together. Adam had a choice; he didn’t have to choose Eve. But he was so astonished at the wonder of Eve, he didn’t give himself the option of saying no.

So, we know God cares deeply about giving us His best in a spouse. Secondly, we know that God brings us His best in His timing (when we are ready).

Key words: “Brings Us”

Proverbs 19:14 MSG: “…A congenial spouse comes straight from God” (Other translations say “a gift from God”).

My point in all this is that we shouldn’t need to “take a spouse” but we should “receive a spouse”, just like how we would receive an amazing gift.

God won’t interfere with our free will. We can take our hand, reach out, and make a relationship happen in our timing. But if we truly desire the best, we should wait in faith for Him to bring us His best.

Back to the story of Adam and Eve. If you read between the lines,  there was a period of time between Eve’s creation and when the two met. I imagine God took Adam out into the wilderness and showed him his identity as a man. Meanwhile, God had Eve in the garden teaching her, fellowshipping with her, and revealing her identity as a woman. God prepared both of them for each other before bringing them together.

We must be willing to go through this process of preparation and realization of our identity. Christians who “wait for God’s best” but don’t “prepare for God’s best” are not walking in faith and will not “receive God’s best”. Faith always requires action.

I don’t know how God will reveal His best for you. I do know that when it happens it should have the supernatural mark and it should be so good it knocks you over, so to speak.

When we pray for a spouse, we should pray: “Not by my hand, but by Yours”.

Put your blinders on. Be so involved in the work of the Kingdom and in preparation that God has to interrupt you with your spouse.

Ask God for standards so high, it’s impossible to find the right person on your own.