I once had an unmarried secretary who was happily dating a young man who also worked for the church. They were growing closer day by day. Everyone could see this relationship was going to end up in marriage. They were already discussing it seriously. One Sunday night the senior pastor called them out and said, “Thus saith the Lord, you two will be married.”

The next morning my secretary walked into the office on clouds. She was so excited. She asked if I would marry them, and I said I would be honored to. I set up an appointment to meet with them for counseling.

But I was uneasy. When they came into my office, my spirit was troubled. I looked at my secretary and asked if she knew this young man was the one God had selected for her. She responded with an enthusiastic, definite yes.

I then looked at him and asked, “Do you believe it is the will of God for you to marry this girl?”

He looked at me with his mouth half open for a moment then dropped his head and shook it as if to say, “No, I am not sure.” I looked at them both and then spoke to the young man. “I will not marry you. I don’t care who prophesied over you or what was said. I don’t care how many have said, `You two make a lovely couple.’ If God has not revealed His will in your heart, you have no business going on with this marriage.

“If you marry without God’s revealing this as His perfect will to you,” I continued, “when storms come-and they will come-you will have questions: What If I had married another girl? Would I have had these problems? I should have made sure it was God’s will. I feel trapped.

“Then your heart will grow weary, and you will not be able to fight against the adversity that blows against your marriage. You will be a double-minded man and unstable in all your ways.”

I sent them off and said there would be no reason to meet again. He was relieved. She was very upset. For the next week it was very uncomfortable in our office. But I knew I had spoken the truth. This was a time of testing for her. If God had truly spoken to her that this man was her husband, she would have to trust the Lord to reveal it to him and stay free from offense with me as well as with God. I told her to back off and let him have room to hear from God. She did.

Three weeks passed, and they requested another meeting. I immediately felt a sense of joy. This time when they came into the office, he looked at me with a sparkle in his eyes and said, “I know beyond any doubt that this is the woman God has given me to marry!” They were married seven months later.

When you know God has put you in a relationship or a church, the enemy will have a much more difficult time getting you out. You are founded on the revealed Word of God and will work through the conflicts even when it looks impossible.

Bevere, John. The Bait of Satan. Lake Mary, Florida, Charisma House, 1997, p. 75,76 www.charismahouse.com