“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31
As a little girl, I dreamt of getting married, starting a family, and living the perfect life as a housewife. I can’t tell you how many times I married my teddy bears and imagined princes from faraway lands. My bridal veils were made from everything I could find, from bedroom curtains to chains of wildflowers woven into my curls.
As I grew older, my dreams shifted, but one remained constant. I still pictured myself walking down the aisle to my handsome prince. Maybe he wouldn’t come from a distant kingdom, but surely he would be handsome, strong, and ready to make my dreams come true. I dreamt of traveling the world before having kids, chasing adventures and slaying a few dragons of my own before marrying a dashing dragon slayer.
Then I graduated high school, finished college, earned my master’s degree, and…waited.
I waited for life to begin. I waited for the right man and a chance to see the world.
So. Much. Waiting.
A Little Girl With Dreams
I grew up attending small, private Christian schools. My father’s job moved us around but every school felt familiar: safe, structured, and centered on faith. I had my life mapped out. College. Wedding. House. Children. Career.
Those years gave me a rich foundation in Scripture through Bible memorization, chapel services, religion classes, and sword drills. I’m deeply grateful for the teachers, pastors, and mentors God used to shape my faith.
Somewhere along the way, I chose Isaiah 40:31 as my “life verse.” I loved the vibrant imagery of an eagle soaring above the storm. I imagined rising above the struggles of adolescence and stepping into the life I longed for. The grown-up life, with my own family and children to love.
Looking back, I probably should have realized that choosing a verse about waiting meant God would teach me patience. The life I expected didn’t arrive when—or how—I imagined.
Culture Teaches Us to Wait
From childhood, we’re told to get good grades, attend a good college, build a successful life, and wait for the right man. We’re encouraged to dream about Prince Charming, picture-perfect homes, and happily-ever-afters.
There’s nothing wrong with those dreams. But I wish I had spent less time chasing my version of the future and more time asking God what He wanted for my life. The ideal husband, the white house, the picket fence, the two kids, and a dog don’t automatically create a perfect life.
God’s plans often look different from ours. And today’s culture reflects that shift. People are marrying later than previous generations, and many remain single longer than they once expected.
The Census Bureau revealed that in 2022, thirty-four percent of people ages fifteen and over had never married. That figure rose from twenty-three percent in 1950. Waiting has become a common part of adulthood, whether waiting for marriage, career opportunity, or life’s next season.
God’s Plan Is Better Than Ours
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.”
— Ephesians 3:20-21
Did you know that God has a plan for your life? A unique, special, fantastic plan that is so far beyond anything you could ever ask for or even dream about? My life turned out so differently than I thought, but it is oh, so much better!
After college, I had the opportunity to travel the world, live overseas, and teach English. For two years, I explored Asia, climbed the Great Wall, backpacked through Mongolia, experienced new cultures, made new friends, and watched God stretch my faith in ways I never expected.
Instead of searching for “the one,” I focused on becoming the woman God created me to be. My days were filled with ministry, teaching, friendships, and adventure. More importantly, they were filled with learning to depend on God.
I didn’t fit my imagined timeline. Neither did I fit the mold expected of young women. I simply followed God’s leading one step at a time. Those years built a deeper relationship with Christ than I could have ever developed by rushing toward my own plans. I learned to wait in the silence, hoping and praying for the fulfillment of my dreams while actively building a foundation for my future.
A Patient Princess
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:11
Following God’s leading didn’t mean I gave up on marriage. It meant I trusted Him with the timing.
Patience is hard. Trusting God’s timing isn’t easy, especially when you’re waiting for something good. As a child, I hated hearing the words, “Be patient.” I wanted what I wanted, and I wanted it immediately.
Years later, after returning to the United States, I built a fulfilling career in curriculum development and institutional advancement. Life was good, but part of me still wondered why God hadn’t answered the prayer I’d carried since childhood. I even found myself wondering, How hard could it be to find the right man, settle down, and start a family?
Slowly, God shifted my focus. Instead of obsessing over what I lacked, I invested in my walk with Him, poured myself into meaningful work, and discovered genuine contentment.
For the first time, my life felt full—not because every dream had come true, but because Christ was enough.
…and in walked a handsome prince.
The Unexpected Answer
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”
— Proverbs 13:12
Just when I stopped searching, my husband walked into my life. I wasn’t looking for him, and I wasn’t necessarily ready to give up my amazing life, either!
After spending so many years learning to trust God’s timing, I struggled to accept that this prayer had finally been answered.
But God knew exactly what He was doing. And I am so thankful.
Today, I work as a high school theater and photography instructor at a small Christian school. Now I encourage young women to trust God’s plan, even when it doesn’t match their own. I can honestly tell them that God provides—not always as expected, but always as needed.
Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the waiting. I’m living proof that patience is so worth it. Live your life. Travel the world. Pursue the dreams God has placed before you. Don’t give up on happiness.
Trust God’s timing. Wait for Him to answer your prayers in ways that you cannot imagine. Indeed, life is so good when we wait on God.
