As a young nerd true love seemed almost as unattainable as a unicorn. In fact, a unicorn was much more attainable than love; I just had to glue a pretzel stick to one of my sister’s My Little Ponies. Valentine’s Day could be a little rough for me growing up. I was interested in girls yet they didn’t seem that interested in me. Every year I would hope for the “I Choo-Choo-Choose You” card but would always end up with the “Let’s Bee Friends” card. I wanted to be caught up in some sweeping romance like I’d seen in the movies. It wasn’t just the movies, though; the Bible is filled with stories of romance and desire.
In Genesis we’re told about Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham wants to find a wife for his son, Isaac, so he sends his servant off to his homeland. In the story the servant prays that God would show favor to the servant and reveal the right woman for Isaac. God is faithful and Rebekah is shown to be that woman. The servant puts a ring in Rebekah’s nose and she and Isaac live happily ever after…almost. How they meet is like a fairy tale but how they parent would land them on Dr. Phil.
In the book of Ruth we read the romantic tale of Boaz rescuing Ruth from the hopeless existence of living as a widow. Ruth catches Boaz’ eye while she’s working in the fields and, after some late night cuddling, Boaz sets into motion a plan to make Ruth his wife. From all that’s written, Ruth and Boaz did live happily ever after, having children and being a part of the lineage of Jesus.
These stories helped me become a hopelessly romantic nerd. I thought that if God had Rebekah for Isaac and Ruth for Boaz, then he must have somebody for me. When I would watch these stories unfold on the flannel graph, I would often imagine that I was up there running into the arms of the one that God had for me. I would see my love across the flannel graph, inches of fabric and static electricity the only barrier between us. As we bounced along, drawing nearer to each other, my paper heart would begin to melt as I realized I had found the love of my life.
But that never happened for me, not on a flannel graph and not in real life.
Valentine’s Day can be rough for a lot of nerds and anybody else who finds themselves at home alone on February 14 with a Hot Pocket and a two-liter of Mt. Dew. It can be especially hard for Christians who so desire to find that someone yet God continues to work in his own timing.
I wrestled with those feelings for a good portion of my life, wanting someone and wondering when God was going to bring me my Rebekah; I felt like I had the ring I was just waiting for the nose to put it in. Eventually I got comfortable waiting on God’s timing but didn’t resign to just sitting in the dark hoping to find a girl working in the fields. Instead I looked at my life, the areas where I needed to grow, change and improve, and started addressing them. And not just spiritually, but emotionally, intellectually, relationally and physically. If God was going to have me wait, I was going to make the most of that time, draw nearer to him and be the best Boaz or Isaac I could be.
God eventually brought me my Rebekah and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been blessed by my wife, but I was also blessed by the intention and focus I put into bettering myself while I waited. Psalm 37 says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, he will give us the desires of our hearts. So while you’re waiting for that Ruth or that Isaac, it would delight the Lord for you to better yourself, not just for your potential Boaz or Rebekah, but for God.
And maybe if you really delight yourself in the Lord, you’ll end up with the love of your life and a unicorn.
How do you respond to Valentine’s Day?
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