“My story starts when I was a young teenager. I remember telling the Lord, ‘When I meet my husband, I don’t want to question it. Please make it clear to me when it happens.’ I knew I would someday meet my husband. What I realize now is the journey to meeting him was worth every moment.
I was 17 when I started writing a journal for my future husband. This journal became a way for me to get my emotions out while I was praying for him and waiting for him. I knew one day I would give him the journal on our wedding day, which made each journal entry that much more special. This journal became a huge part of my single years and waiting. I prayed for him often. I thought about him often.
Some days, I thought the process was taking too long. I was watching friends step into relationships, getting engaged, and I thought, ‘This is going to take a while.’ Even in my moments of feeling impatient, I had peace to remain faithful, wait and pray. There was a joy that would rise up in me when I partnered with Heaven and prayed for my husband. It was a joy that kept me rooted and strong. Sure, I knew a few nice guys who I could have dated, but I knew they weren’t the one. The joy I felt when I prayed was far greater than a momentary boyfriend. I KNEW deep down who the Lord was preparing for me was well worth the waiting. I focused on personal growth, growing deeper in the Lord, and finding contentment while I waited.
Once, a family member told me to ‘play the field’ and to ‘go out and have a little fun.’ I had some people try to set me up on dates… and of course with their sons and grandsons. People always inserted their opinions when I told them I was waiting. It was like they thought I was lonely or sad because I wasn’t dating around. I didn’t let it get to me. I surrounded myself with people who encouraged me, people who prayed for me and also prayed for the future.
I thought often about what it would be like standing before my husband on our wedding day, knowing I had chosen to love him before I knew him.
In July of 2016, I took a big step of faith and moved from New Jersey to Florida. I served on staff at a church as a worship leader for about 8 months. After 8 months, I had the option to stay in Florida or go back to New Jersey. I really felt like God still had more for me to accomplish in Florida, so I stayed. I got a job as a barista at a coffee shop in town and trusted Him to lead me.
This is where Levi comes into the picture. It was Friday, March 10, 2017. I was on my last training shift at the coffee shop before they moved me to day hours. I remember bopping around the coffee shop, as happy as could be. I loved it there and I was getting a hang of everything pretty quickly.
Levi walked in the doors with his teal scrubs on, his long hair pulled into a bun, and a wild, crazy beard. He worked at the hospital and after a long day, was meeting a friend to catch up. It just so happened to be this coffee shop. I didn’t think much of him, I was just doing my job. I asked him if he wanted anything to eat or drink and went on my way. Little did I know, 2 days later, I’d meet him again.
Sunday, March 12, I woke up around 8:30 a.m. from a dream and I felt like the Lord was telling me to go to a local church in town. I was going to sleep in that day but I decided listening to Him was more important than sleep. I got dressed and rolled into church way late… 45 mins late. The greeters were no longer at the door, so I found myself to the second to the last row of the church as worship was still happening. Before I could even get settled in and sit down, I saw Levi. He walked right up to me and said, ‘Hey! Are you the girl from the coffee shop?’ He invited me to sit with him and his friends so I wasn’t sitting alone. Anyone who knows Levi knows he loves when people feel seen and not left out. I really didn’t think much of it and I didn’t feel like he creeping, so I agreed to sit with them.
Do you remember that prayer I prayed when I was a teen? ‘When I meet my husband, I don’t want to question it. Please make it clear to me when it happens.’ Well, that happened. Levi and I were bookends in the row. At some point in the service, I leaned forward to look down the whole row and when I looked at Levi, the Lord said, ‘That’s your husband.’ As you can imagine, I had all sorts of questions and I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know this guy! I just learned his first name. I had prayed for him for so many years… was this really happening?! Honestly, I knew the prayer I prayed… but I thought I was nuts.
After service, he handed me his phone and said, ‘Text this to yourself… it’s the address of the house where a group of friends is meeting for lunch today.’ I really didn’t think anything of it. I’ve had guys try to get my number before and this was very innocent. I could feel it. Deep down I thought, ‘Well, now I have his number!’
Over the next 2 weeks, I jumped right into the young adult community at church as well as weekly gatherings. I found myself in the same space as Levi often. I remember texting him about a Monday night prayer gathering and that turned into a 3-hour conversation all about the Lord. A few days later, he asked me if I would like to go to his favorite place, bring my guitar, and worship there with him. My first question was, ‘Who else is going?’ I tried to keep my guard up and not fall for him, even though it was happening really fast. He told me he could ask a few friends to join. A friend of mine was with me at the time and said, ‘He’s asking you to hang out with him! Don’t ask him who else is going… the point is you going!’
I accepted his invite and we both met at his favorite place with our guitars in hand. It’s a stairwell in the college he was attending. I realized why he loved it so much when we got there. The acoustics were out of this world and no one walked that staircase after a certain time. We spent almost 6 hours there that night. We talked, played music together, worshipped, and prayed. Keep in mind, this was our first hang out, and my second week of ever seeing his face.
I felt like I knew him forever in my heart and spirit. We connected quickly. There was something about him that I never ever saw in anyone else. When it came to surface-level questions, I knew nothing! I texted him and said, ‘Okay, let’s play 20 questions.’ It was wild to know someone so deeply yet have no idea about the silly things. By the end of the month, we had hung out what seemed like every day with friends, getting to know each other. One time specifically, he told me he didn’t want to kiss unless we were married. I almost fell out of my chair. Since I was a teenager, that was a desire of mine. On April 1, we walked around the lake in town and he asked me if he could pursue a relationship with me. I said yes. Of course!
Remember that journal I started writing years and years ago? Well, his name finally was changed from ‘future husband’ or ‘husband’ to ‘Levi.’ It was a surreal moment writing those 4 letters on the top of a journal entry for the first time. Knowing for years and years I had waited, and I just knew without a shadow of a doubt Levi would one day be my husband.
Just a few short months later, on August 8, Levi told me to wear some sneakers and meet him outside at 8 a.m. I had no idea where we were going. After about 40 mins of driving, we pulled into a skydiving jump zone. I lost it. I was crying just thinking, ‘I can’t believe he is taking me skydiving!!’ We signed waivers and picked out songs for our videos. I couldn’t believe he was getting videos too! We jumped in the airplane and started to climb altitude. Having gone skydiving many times before that, I was ready! Levi looked nervous. Super nervous. Little did I know the jumping part wasn’t what had his nerves all over the place.
At 11,000 feet in the air, he turned around on the plane on one knee and asked me to marry him! I was shocked! I really had NO idea. I got so excited I hit the ring out of his hand! We had to search around the plane to find it. What a moment. I said YES! Then I watched my brand new fiancé jump out of an airplane, and I quickly followed. He greeted me on the ground on one knee and gave me the ring, where I didn’t hit it out of his hand.
We married on April 15, 2018. I remember what it felt like that day walking down the aisle to meet him. A veil over my face, my arm in my Dad’s, and laughing down to the alter. I had so much joy at that moment all I could do was laugh. I was giddy at the thought of kissing him too! Our first kiss was so amazing and so funny. I smiled so big he was pretty much kissing my teeth. We joke about it still to this day and sometimes say, ‘Give me a wedding day kiss.’
As for our wedding night, you won’t get those details. I did give him the journal in person when it was just the two of us that night. What a special moment. I read the whole journal to him a few days later.
I share all of this to tell you, the wait was worth it. The hard moments were worth it. The days that felt like life was never changing were worth it. The waiting to be together, worth it. There is never a day I regret waiting for my husband. Every day really feels like a gift with him. Whatever season you are in right now, I encourage you to know there is an amazing plan for your life. You don’t have to compromise. You don’t have to settle. You aren’t alone. Lift up your head and look to the One Who holds your heart and your future. He is working and moving.
Sometimes, good things take time. It was the years leading up to meeting my husband that I will cherish forever. My single years truly formed me in ways that prepared me to be Levi’s wife. Keep remaining faithful and remember, your story is still being written… it’s a beautiful one.”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Chelsea DeSmidt. You can follow their journey on Instagram. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.
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