MARRIAGE IS A GIFT
NOT TO BE USED
FOR OUR OWN
GLORY, BENEFIT,
OR PLEASURE. IT
IS ORDAINED OF
GOD TO SHOW THE
WORLD THE GLORY
OF GOD AND THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT
GOD DESIRES TO
HAVE WITH THE
CHURCH, WHO
IS THE BRIDE OF
CHRIST.
waiting, I was still waiting. I often
wanted and was encouraged
by some to make a phone call
and demand that an answer be
given so that I could at least go
on with my life.
After seven months, we were
able to have about a week
together to talk about things
and share our hearts with one another. We also attended a Pure Life Conference
together. Those were some difficult times for me as I longed for an answer and wanted
to demand one. God helped me to keep that longing under control and to be able to
tell Ann to take her time in making a decision that she would not regret. If it was a “No”,
it was going to be a “No” forever unless God made it extremely clear. At this point I
was so ready for an answer that a “no” would have been as accepted as a “yes”. We
went away from that conference with no definite answer. I cried on that drive home,
pleading that God would give Ann an answer or show me something else. I felt clear
to continue forward and of course wanted to move forward in a relationship. This
conference was in April. On May 23rd I received a letter with the answer that she felt
clear going forward in a relationship but not into engagement.
She took a trip to SC to visit friends there and planned to come to TN to be at my sister
and brother’s weddings. Needless to say I was a little excited about going forward.
She came up on a Friday and God began to show me that He is in control. On Sunday
we were talking about some of our desires in our relationship and the thought crossed
my mind of a letter I had written about a month before, asking her to marry me. I
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wanted the decision to be so clear that we could
go on into engagement because I really didn’t
know where to go in our relationship, except to
marriage. I had detailed certain things in the letter
that covered the subject being talked about. So I
gave her the letter and told her which paragraph
to read. Well, she ended up reading the whole
thing! Now what do I do? God why did you allow
me to write that letter in the first place, and why
did you let me give it to her? As she looked at me,
she asked, “What am I supposed to say?” I quickly
suggested, “Yes”. I didn’t plan to propose so soon.
So it happened that three days after she arrived in
TN, we were engaged. The date was June 3. Exactly
a year previous on June 5th we were engaged to
be married. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I believe
God had His hand in it to show me that it is best
done in His time and His way.
It wasn’t easy from there. Her parents thought we
were taking our time and all. Imagine their surprise to hear that we are engaged!
Not only that, but we are wanting to get married in August before my brother left for
Ghana. This is also the busy time for their produce business. God continued to open
doors so that we were able to set the wedding date to August 3, 2013. We got a
house to rent within the price range we desired and the details for the wedding came
together so beautifully. Only God could make everything happen the way it did. God
showed His blessing even in the weather that we had in August.
God has taught us many things through our courtship and in marriage. The main one
for courtship is that it is well worth the effort to keep your hands off each other. We are
so thankful that God put it in our hearts not to hug, kiss, or even hold hands during our
dating years. The blessing of having all those things reserved for marriage is something
that few know today, but would wi ͠