The Joel Espanol Maturan Blog: "I Prayed for the Perfect One

When I was younger, I had this ideal woman in mind—the kind you could only dream of. I prayed constantly, asking God to give her to me: someone beautiful, intelligent, talented, and God-fearing. I even imagined her being admired by many—a real model, in and out.

At age 21, I thought I finally met her.

She was crowned “Miss Tagbina”, representing her hometown with grace and beauty. And yes, we entered into a relationship. I was thrilled and hopeful. It felt like a prayer answered.

We were together for almost a year.

But as much as we tried, long distance became the gap we couldn't bridge.

Despite the deep feelings and shared moments, our relationship came to an end.

At first, I didn’t understand why.
“God, I prayed for her. Why didn’t it work out?”

🌱 From Dream Girl to Divine Plan

Years later, when I was 25, I met someone new.
And this time—it was different.

She wasn’t the type I had always prayed for. She didn’t fit my youthful “ideal.”
She wasn’t Miss Anything. In fact, she didn’t even share my faith.
But I felt something strong in my heart:
This was God’s doing.

I was being led into a relationship not based on outward perfection,
but inward transformation.

🙏 Love with Purpose

This new chapter was not easy.
Loving someone who didn’t yet believe in God was a challenge.
But I knew deep down—this was my mission.
To love not just with affection, but with conviction.
To be an example of what grace looks like.
To introduce her—gently, patiently—to the One who had written my story all along.

💡 What I’ve Learned—and What I Want You to Remember

Dear young ones, whether you’re praying for love, healing from heartbreak, or waiting for the right one—here’s what I’ve learned that might help you:

Not every answered prayer ends in “forever.”
Some are there to teach you, shape you, and prepare you for what’s next.
God’s “no” is not a rejection—it’s a redirection.
He closed the door to a dream so He could open the path to your destiny.
Sometimes, the right one is the one you didn’t expect.
Not because they match your checklist, but because they fit your purpose.
When God gives you someone who doesn’t yet believe—don’t run.
Maybe you’re the light they’ve been praying for without even knowing it.
True love isn’t just romantic—it’s redemptive.
It brings people closer to God, not away from Him.

💬 Final Words from My Heart

Looking back, I’m thankful that my prayers weren’t answered exactly the way I wanted.
I’m grateful for the almosts, the could-have-beens, and the heartbreaks.
Because through them, I learned to surrender—not just my desires, but my future.

At 21, I thought I had the perfect love.
At 25, I found God’s love working in me, teaching me how to love with patience, purpose, and prayer.

So to you who are waiting:
Keep praying—but also keep surrendering.
The one who comes may not be your ideal—but they might just be your divine assignment.

Let God write your love story—He is, after all, the Author of love itself.

💬 Have you ever had a love story that didn’t go as planned? How did God move through it? I’d love to hear your story in the comments. Let’s inspire one another to wait with hope and love with faith.

#LoveGodsWay #WhenGodWritesYourStory #FaithfulWaiting #PurposeDrivenLove #GodsPlanIsGreater