My heart was content in the Lord--I wasn’t looking for a relationship.
WAITING
I was a happy single person, finding joy in worship, music, and people. But, I knew love could be sweet and near, like my Lord. I also knew I hadn’t had it that way yet, but, when I did, it would be worth the wait.
I had become so good at waiting for God to bring me my mate, I almost missed it when he called.
A creative and curiously patient man I was a small group leader with met me for coffee. After making plans for our group, he opened up the conversation, “What are you planning for your birthday? It’s the big 3-0! What will it look like?”
As I answered, he listened. He would hear everything I was dreaming and considering. “What else?” he kept asking. “What is on your mind? What does your heart say?” Then he asked me to date him that day. I said I was too afraid to lose him as a friend at that time. He said okay and waited.
After coffee until the weekend of July 4th, a door in the wall around my heart gave a tiny crack and dared to ask “What could happen if I said yes to this man?” The idea was thrilling. I knew I wanted to say yes the next time he asked, if he would ask...
TRUSTING THE PROCESS
We had been dating for five months. He told me how excited he was for “cozy season” and for a person to finally share it with. Fires, soups, coffee, movies, blankets, this December was truly one to remember.
It was the week before Christmas. After brunching with his family, I helped my friend paint her room. Little did I know he was preparing an arrangement of lights on top of one of Oklahoma City’s downtown skyrises…
Our plans were to meet back up with his family to see Christmas lights. Fully bought into the story, I followed in his direction saying, “The boys wanted to see many lights at once. Downtown might be a great spot! They’re on their way, we should head that way.”
We arrived at the high rise and I was searching for his brother’s family. I kept wondering, “Where are the boys?” Up 31 stories and a flight of stairs, out onto the roof, and I still can’t believe they went up without us…
We walk onto the rooftop and he holds my shoulders as I notice the lights twinkling all around us as he says,
“Maybe someone put these lights here on purpose…”
And then I knew. It was happening. Still I had to ask, “ Is it really happening?” “Yes, it really is.”
We had talked about marriage before--how we believed in it and that God was in it. We had peace in dreaming about a future together only because of the foundation our relationship was built on.
We waited for God to write our story. We had seen first-hand in our own lives how he can craft the most precious narrative from the most unlikely of vantages.
We knew God was at work in our relationship, working in details, unfolding all the chapters.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11
How has the Lord filled you with hope in a season of waiting?
Meet the Author!
Haley Stocks is a musician, teacher, and member of Council Road. You can find her playing violin on Sunday mornings, leading worship for the youth, or in an orchestra classroom. She enjoys a fresh cup of coffee, long drives, and Oklahoma sunsets.