Sarah would have been 12 years old at the time.
We had the privilege of watching her one week a month to help her single mom, Kathie, home school Sarah. Sarah and my daughter Beth had a love/hate relationship, being best friends yet mortal enemies at the same time. While Sarah and Beth quarreled over whatever 12 year old girls quarrel about, my son David, a pimply-faced 14 year old, was developing a pimply-faced 14 year old crush on Sarah. So one day he prayed that Jesus would someday let him marry Sarah.
On Saturday God answered the prayer of that pimply-faced 14 year old. And I had the privilege of marrying them. Sarah’s father walked her down the aisle. She looked beautiful and radiant, and was crying tears of joy. My son, David, now 23, was beaming as her dad gave Sarah’s arm to him. I thought, “David, you are one blessed guy. How did you ever get this beautiful girl to agree to be your wife?”
It was the prayer a 14 year old prayed 9 years ago. And the kindness of a gracious, faithful God who hears our every desire, our every sigh, and our every whispered request.
God may take 9 years or 49 years to answer our prayers. He may answer them in ways we don’t expect. He may not give us what we ask for, but give us something infinitely better. But he hears our every prayer and he won’t forget a single one.
So, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (PHP 4.6-7).
photo by Lydia Jane Photography
If you’d like to see a video of the first kiss visit Evidences of Grace
Written by Mark Altrogge
Topics: God's Faithfulness