Ten years ago, I was living in the city, surrounded by great friends and fun times, thoroughly enjoying the single life. I definitely had the desire to be married some day, but after years of fighting with God on His timing for me, I had finally come to a place of contentment. In fact, I was even writing a book on what God had taught me!

[image source: www.kathyadamsclark.blogspot.com]

So when my parents started telling me about “this guy I should meet,” I was hesitant, to say the least. It had taken me so long, it seemed, to rebound from previous mediocre relationships, I had no desire to start all over again. I didn’t want to meet anyone new. I didn’t want to be set up. I just wanted to be left alone and enjoy, for once, being just me and God.

But they didn’t let it go. The man’s name was Jason and he was on staff at my home church, Sagemont. He directed the orchestra where my sister and her husband met. He knew my whole family from working with them in the worship and praise ministry. But because I had attended other churches for the past eight years, I had never met him myself.

Honestly, the more they told me about him, the more my stubborn nature kicked in and I didn’t want to meet him. It didn’t matter how attractive he was, how talented he was, or how much we had in common. I just didn’t care!

I remember eating lunch with my mom, Sammie, at a restaurant in Livingston, Texas, in March of 2003. I knew there was a chance I’d hear about this Mr. Wonderful again, so I was all prepared with the perfect comeback that was sure to nip the whole thing in the bud.

So when she brought up his name, I was ready. “Okay, fine,” I said. “Here’s the deal. I don’t want to be set up. I don’t care who it is. But you all obviously won’t let this go. So, here’s what I want you to do. I want you to pray about this every single day for a month! I want you to pray hard. You need to pray for the strength to drop this idea, or that God would miraculously change my mind because I’m just not feeling it!”

I sat back, proud of myself for playing the God card, fully expecting her to find my demands ridiculous and surrender right there.

Instead, she said, “Great! Tuesday is April 1; I’ll start then!”

I was dumbfounded. I was sure she wouldn’t accept my crazy challenge and didn’t know quite how to respond. Finally I just let it be, realizing that at the very least, I’d just bought myself a month off from their holy meddling.

Easter was on April 20 that year, so I spent Easter Sunday at my home church with my family just like I did every year. On stage, they had erected a huge, 40-foot cross that created a moving image and powerful statement for all of us in the congregation [see the picture below].

As I stared in awe at the cross before the service began, I noticed a man standing in its shadow. “Who’s that guy?” I asked my sister.

She punched me. Then she rolled her eyes and sighed. “You dork! That’s the guy we’ve been telling you about. That’s Jason.”

“Oh,” I said. “Well, I’d go out with him…”

Ten years and four kids later, that’s what can happen when a mother prays.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my love story with Jason Ryan coming next month!

Q: Have you ever accepted a prayer challenge before? How did it turn out?