Eve worked in a reputable company, made a decent income and was blessed in her physical features. She went to church every Sunday and occasionally on Wednesdays. For sometime, she had been praying to God to send to her 'man' of her dreams, someone who would understand her, make her laugh, was handsome, romantic, affectionate, made a more than decent income, wasn't clingy but called enough, was healthy, God fearing but not boring, at least taller than she was and liked by her family and friends. Eve knew it was a long list but she trusted God and knew He wouldn't send her anything short of her expectations.

Settling down had never been a priority. After all, there were always suitors at her door but none of them checked her list fully. However now that her friends were getting married, Eve wanted to do the same too. She wasn't getting any younger and knew her parents were itching for her to bring 'the guy' home. Eve began praying, three months later and with uninterrupted fasting, the guy still hadn't come. Eve knew she was a pretty and good person, so she wondered where this man was and began to worry. One day Eve got a call from one of her friends who asked her to join a life group that had many single men. Eve quickly registered and there she met Tom.

Tom was God fearing, funny, understood her and checked most boxes in her list but as time went on Eve began seeing things in Tom that she didn't like. Firstly, Tom was clingy. He was always calling her, not once, twice but up to fifteen times in a day. He wanted to spend every spare time he had with her, didn't he understand that she had a life! Secondly, Tom was short, she had overlooked this at first as she thought perhaps it was something she could live with, on the bright side she would save a lot of money by not buying Manolos! After sometime, Tom's clingy nature became unbearable so Eve broke things off. Attending the life group became awkward especially as Tom was trying to get her to change her mind. Soon after, Eve stopped going to church on Wednesdays in fear of seeing Tom. She had been avoiding his calls, yet he still didn't get the message! Sunday services were safer, she knew he went to the third service so she started going to the first service.

Two months later, Eve got a call from one of her high school friends who insisted she had met the perfect man for her. Eve was a bit reluctant, she hated blind dates, you never knew what to expect. After some persuasion she however gave in. Dick was most things Tom was not, he wasn't clingy and he was tall and handsome. He also went to church, well at certain times like Easter and New Year's Eve services. Eve decided to do some evangelist dating and bring Dick closer to God, after all no one was perfect! But in less than a month, Eve decided she was wasting her time. Whenever she invited Dick to church, he would simply reply, 'isn't God everywhere, besides God and I have a special relationship, we understand each other.' It was hopeless. Dick wasn't going to change his ways and she was beginning to compromise her beliefs to please him. A week later, Eve broke things off with Dick; it was for the best especially as she wanted to get closer to God.

Eve began to rekindle her relationship with God and registered to become a church volunteer. She met Harry who was also a volunteer and happened to know her cousin. Harry was a devoted Christian; he was kind, thoughtful and embodied a lot of the things Eve wanted in a man. Some months passed by and Eve waited patiently for Harry to ask her out but he didn't. She decided to take things into her hands and asked her cousin to nudge Harry in asking her out. Two weeks later, Harry gave Eve a call and invited her to a friend's party. Eve was excited and quickly accepted his invitation. Every time Eve went out with Harry she would meet more of his friends. She was thrilled; it seemed that things were going well. One day Harry showed up at her flat, 'Eve I have been praying. I don't think you are the woman for me. I can't see you as anything but a friend. I think it will be wrong for me to continue in a relationship that I'm not comfortable with. You are a lovely woman and will one day make someone a good wife. I'm sorry but it's best we call things off. ' That night, Eve cried herself to sleep, she felt so humiliated. The more she thought about things, the more she realized that she had been the one to initiate most of the encounters with Harry even from the onset when she got her cousin to prompt him to ask her out.

Eve became angry with God, what was she doing wrong? All her friends were settling down, getting married, having babies and here she was still single. She was tired of always being the bridesmaid and putting on a happy face. Eve was angry; she wanted to settle down, be somebody's wife. Even Harry had said it; she would one day make someone a good wife, perhaps not him but someone. Had God forgotten about her?

Eventually, Eve got into a lukewarm relationship with God, there were days when she trusted in God and there were days she just couldn't be bothered. A year went by and yet more friends were getting married. She had grown tired of people asking her, 'when are you getting married?' or telling her 'not to worry she will get married in God's time'. Slowly, Eve's attendance in church fell. She stopped attending Wednesday services and sometimes she didn't attend Sunday service.

At a friend's wedding, Eve met Ahmed. He was a nice guy, sure he didn't meet all her specifications but she had thrown most of those out the window now. At least he was ready to get married! Soon after, Ahmed proposed; Eve had dreamt of this moment numerous times but each time she pictured it, she was over the moon and overwhelmed. Now that it was real, all she felt was unease. Ahmed was a Muslim and he wasn't planning on converting, in fact he wanted her to convert. Eve knew she wanted to get married but not this way. She told Ahmed she had to think over his proposal.

The next day, Eve went to church and the Pastor talked about how there was a season for everything and having faith in God. That day, Eve rededicated her life to God and put her trust in him again. Immediately after the service, Eve went to see Ahmed, she told him she couldn't accept his proposal and ended things.

When Eve got home she broke down in tears, she had spent so much time looking for what she wanted and not focused on what God wanted for her. She decided to surrender every aspect of her life to God. Rather than spending time looking for a potential husband she was going to dedicate her life to developing a relationship with God. Eve began volunteering in church again and later became a church worker. She made time for her friends and found new interests.

Months went by and Eve made new friends in church. One day Adam, one of her friends, who also served in church approached her, 'Eve, do you know the first time I met you was when you registered to join a life group. We talked for a bit, I don't know if you remember? Whenever I prayed to God about meeting my life partner, you would come to my mind or we would bump into you in church. Actually, we met again when you decided to volunteer. I didn't see you again for a while after that but every time I prayed about getting married, I kept seeing you. I began to think I was probably obsessed but one day Pastor preached about 'how there was a season for everything'. I prayed again about settling down and around that time I began seeing you more regularly in church. We became friends and well, without beating around the bush I believe God has told me you are my life partner. '

Eve hadn't expected to hear what Adam had said, she simply told him she had to pray about it and when she got home that was the first thing she did. The next day Eve spoke to the Pastor about what had happened and he informed her that Adam had also spoken to him about it. Two weeks later and after fasting and praying, Adam and Eve became a couple. Eve was happy; Adam was more than she had asked for. He checked all of her boxes and more. He had a thirst for God that challenged her and made her want to know God more. Eve thanked God and thought, perhaps if she hadn't been busy chasing her own ' Right 'she might have met Adam sooner, then she thought, perhaps her journey was part of God's plan to help others going through a similar experience. Either way she was glad she had met Adam and thanked God. Six months later Adam and Eve were sending out their wedding invitations and shortly after they got married.

There is truly a season for everything and it is important to listen to God so we walk according to His will. God takes us through seasons for a reason but he also gives us a choice with the hope that we make the right decision. May you always harvest in God's season for you.