As women, there is an inherent desire in us to have companionship and to find that special someone; our life partner. During childhood, many of us would read fairy tales or watch cartoons and movies of how a princess is rescued, falls in love and is swept off her feet by her Prince Charming and they both lived happily ever after. And we often imagined ourselves as a princess who would one day fall in love and get married in the same way.

Unfortunately, I am sure many of us have realized that reality could not be further away from the stories we have read or the movies we have watched. The challenge of finding a life partner, falling in love and eventually getting married can be daunting and often leaves many broken hearted and discouraged along the way.

I too went through the process of spending my time and energy investing in several relationships, only to find them ending in failure. I remember one painful breakup from a relationship that lasted for more than five years. Each time I failed in relationship, I became more disillusioned with this thing called love. Any of you out there who can identify with me?!

Sometimes in our search for relationship, we can unknowingly put our pursuit of our relationship above even our pursuit of God. Our desire for relationship can unknowingly become the idol in our life.

In 1995, I came to City Harvest Church after my five-year relationship ended. I was tired and broken on the inside. Resentment was building up on the inside of me, age was catching up with me and I was fearful that I might not find that special someone in my life anymore.

It was in one of the church services that Pastor Kong preached about the story of Rebekah.He shared about how Abraham was a type of God and the servant was a type of the Holy Spirit and that God was the Matchmaker in the union of Isaac and Rebekah. I began to find healing and hope once again through the Word of God.

Isaac Met Rebekah (Gen 24:62~67) “Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her….”

I remember thinking to myself that this is the Bible version of a fairy tale; except, this is not a fairy tale at all because we know that the Bible is a record of all that had happened of what is true!

I began to study the Word of God and learned about the different women mentioned in it. And I came across Ruth in the Book of Ruth and discovered how her obedience led her to her promise.

Boaz Met Ruth (Ruth 2: 10~12) So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

(Ruth 4: 13) So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife.

I read about how Boaz met Ruth when she followed Naomi who is an Israelite (who symbolizes God, His Presence and His Favor) to the Land of Promise and Ruth obeyed all of Naomi’s instructions. Because of her obedience, Ruth met Boaz and found favor with him. He eventually took her as his wife, and although she was not a Jew, God grafted her into the lineage of Christ and she became a part of the family that brought forth Christ.

The Bible mentions another remarkable woman, Rehab. Though she was a harlot, she had the courage to risk her life and to save two Israelite spies. She then left her people to embrace Jehovah God and be amongst His people. She eventually married Salmon and gave birth to Boaz who in turned married Ruth as mentioned above.

Are you seeing a pattern here? I certainly did! I saw women who had abandoned their past, their traditions and the people they were familiar with to embrace the true and living God. They made the decision to follow God, and came under His wings for refuge which enabled them to receive their reward. God orchestrated their relationships and became their Matchmaker.

I know that my God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is one who looks to and fro the earth to see whose heart is loyal before Him that He may show Himself strong on his/her behalf.

In Romans 8:32, Paul reminded us that if God who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Jesus also freely give us all things? Through it, I realized how much God loves me and He truly wants the best for me. He wants me not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever for a very good reason, so that He can pour the fullness of His blessings into my relationship.

In my many years in church, I have seen how many Christian women struggled while waiting for the right one and there are many who have lost faith in this area or even grew bitter over time. I wanted my story to be different. I weighed my chances – statistics showed that in most cases, the proportion of Christian women outweighs that of the Christian men in the church.

I looked at my odds back then; I had just joined City Harvest Church and in those days the ratio of students to adults was probably 5:1. I was standing at the parking lot outside the church and looking at the sea of students, I knew that in the natural, my chances were low and the odds were certainly against me. I remembered the scene so well even now as I write this. I saw where I had gone wrong and how the pursuit of relationship had become greater than my pursuit of God. Like the women in the Bible, I wanted to pursue God.

I did not know where that supernatural faith came from but I recalled saying this prayer: “God, I have proven myself to be foolish in the area of relationships. Today I want to bet on You no matter what the chance and the odds are. Make me your testimony and be my Matchmaker. Make me a living proof to Christian women that You are still our provider especially in the area of relationship. Close my eyes to all the wrong relationships and open them when the right one and the right time has come.”

It may seem like a prayer of desperation, but now I know that the prayer was motivated in the Spirit and it was undoubtedly a prayer that God heard. It was from that day forward that He orchestrated my journey and prepared me to meet the one that He has planned for me.

I have documented my journey to encourage other woman so that they may fully understand how faithful our God is if you will entrust Him with your relationship and let Him be the Author and Finisher of your faith in this area of your life.

In my next 3 articles, I will talk in greater detail about:

• THE PREPARATION
• THE PROMISE
• THE PRIZE

I will chronicle the process that God brought me through to bring me before my ‘Isaac’.

I will also discuss the struggles and pain during the preparation, the process of waiting and how I finally overcame them.

I pray it will be an encouragement to many of you out there who are wanting God to be your Matchmaker and that the journey God brought me through will help you! Stay tuned! Meanwhile, if you do wish to ask me anything with regards to the above post, please write to me at info@wow31.org.

Love,
Susan Dunn