Prepare Yourself to Live the Most Beautiful Love Story

A love story may be one of the sweetest memories of youth. I still remember my puppy love in junior high with one of my seniors. He was handsome, smart, friendly, helpful, and gentle-hearted. Every time I saw him, my heart stirred. Yet years later, my feelings for that senior became quite ordinary.

Often, our love stories end at nothing more than admiration and fleeting feelings that cannot last long. If so, what kind of criteria do we need to use to find true love?

An Equally Matched Partner (Genesis 24:1-61)

Isaac was the child of the covenant between God and Abraham, born when Abraham was 100 years old. As he entered old age, Abraham surely hoped for the best life partner for Isaac.

Here, Abraham faced a dilemma: would he marry Isaac to a Canaanite? In those days, a person's marriage affected not only the family, but also the entire tribe and its future descendants. He knew the Canaanites' way of life did not align with God's word. But with relatives living hundreds of kilometers away from them, how could he find a match for his son?

As a solution, Abraham took an oath from his servant, Eliezer (based on the interpretation of Genesis 15:2), to take a wife for Isaac from among his relatives who believed in God. From the story of Eliezer's search, we can draw three principles for choosing a life partner:

Principle 1: Choose Someone of the Same Faith

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? – 2 Corinthians 6:14

Young people usually have criteria for the life partner they dream of. Whether handsome, beautiful, tall, slim, understanding, with a good job, a house, a car, and so on. Yet often we forget the most important thing in building a relationship: having the same vision and mission.

Choosing a partner of the same faith is the first step in building a family blessed by God. Reflect on this: have your love stories, both past and present, been based on this principle? Surely you do not want to choose wrongly and spend the rest of your life with someone who is disobedient to or does not believe in God. Consider this: am I ready to accept the risk?

Principle 2: Take Action and Pray Specifically

Eliezer made a long journey, bringing ten camels and various valuables from Abraham. When he stopped to rest and reflect on his mission, Eliezer prayed:

“O LORD, God of my master Abraham, grant me success today, and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Here I am, standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let this be the sign: when I say to a young woman, ‘Please lower your jar so that I may drink,’ and she answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’ let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that You have shown steadfast love to my master.” – Genesis 24:12-14

A friend told me that he wanted to have a girlfriend. Yet he was too shy to get acquainted with and build a relationship with the opposite sex. He was not ready to be known and to know a potential partner more deeply. He preferred to keep to himself because he felt comfortable that way. As a result, to this day he is still at the same point.

How long will you stay in your comfort zone? Dreaming but not working to make it happen? Apply ora et labora, work and pray. If you want a life partner, you need effort. Build your confidence and step out of your comfort zone by getting acquainted and socializing with many friends. Do not forget to pray earnestly for your future partner.

Principle 3: Prepare Yourself for God's Promise

Long story short, Isaac and Rebekah were finally united by God. God worked and answered Eliezer's prayer, in line with Abraham's hope. Even before Eliezer finished praying, Rebekah came, a beautiful, wise, diligent, and God-fearing young woman, whose father turned out to be closely related to Abraham (Genesis 24:15).

Eliezer then met Rebekah's parents to explain the purpose of his coming. After hearing Eliezer's story, Rebekah's father and brother were convinced that God Himself had guided everything (Genesis 24:51).

Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She replied, "I will." – Genesis 24:58  

Rebekah trusted in God's presence without the word “but.” More than that, she prepared herself to be worthy of receiving God's promise in her life. If your prayer about a life partner has not yet been answered, it may be because you are not yet focused on preparing yourself and are still living in anxiety. Believe this: God's timing is the best timing. Focus on preparing yourself, improving your character, and keep on doing good work for the glory of God's name.

What your love story will become one day is in your own hands. Choose a partner of the same faith, do your part, and persevere in prayer. God's timing is always the best, so prepare yourself as well as you can. Amen.

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