Two friends of mine got married last year, and I had the privilege of leading them in a premarital class focused on becoming the one.

Right from the beginning, I could tell this couple was special. One thing that set them apart was the young man’s heart.

While he was still single, he took the first step of marriage preparation by saying, “I want something really good. I want to prepare to become a better spouse when I get married. I really want to learn as much as I can.” This attitude and heart response set the tone for his dating relationship and now his marriage.

I met with this couple four times a month for four months—talk about waiting! But this was such a special time as I got to see their growth and what God was doing in them. He took care of their hearts and faithfully prepared them for where He was leading them. They stepped into marriage at a level of preparedness and trust that many couples don’t know exists.

When I think of a relationship success story, these two are it! They are a blessing and inspiration for many couples because of the way they went about preparing and the trust they both have in Jesus.

Trust in the Lord has an astounding effect on your dating relationship. Here are some of the practical benefits of trusting the Lord when you’re getting to know someone.

When you trust the Lord, you don’t fear.

Trust is the choice to believe what God says—about you, about Himself—and it removes all the fear. When you have no fear, you become free to love the Lord, yourself, and the person you’re in a relationship with. You’re also free to move forward—to take the next step in your relationship and know God is pleased.

When you have no fear, you are free just to enjoy the season you’re in.

You are able to enjoy getting to know this other person, and you’re able to fall in love with who they are more easily. You also can hear what God is saying and “rejoice in the day the Lord has made” in a new way.

When you have no fear, you’re free just to be you.

You don’t need to strive to be someone you’re not. There is no pretending or the need to conceal weaknesses. You get to be who you are, and your partner gets to be who they are. All of these things are possible when you trust the Lord.

When your heart knows God is for you, you become unstoppable in many ways.  

You may have a bit of insecurity and doubt from time to time, and you’ll never lose your need to grow in God, but when you know that you know God loves you, you are able to rest in the assurance that no matter what, the outcome will be good for you, because He is looking out for you. Trust is a game changer.

Trusting the Lord allows you to know He has good plans for you.

You can know, without doubt, that one day you will marry an amazing, godly, healthy person who loves Jesus. Your spouse won’t be “perfect,” but they will be perfect for you. I have seen this sweet testimony play out many, many times—and I know it will play out for you as well.

Trust in the Lord is a powerful thing, and it comes with incredible benefits—not just for you but also for your future household.

Here are a few key things my newlywed friends had going for them:

They had faith like a child. A child doesn’t need to understand everything, but they are content to let their parent (in this case, the Lord) lead them and tell them what they need to know. My two friends trusted the Lord, and honestly, it was just so beautiful to see that level of trust in them. 

Second, they knew God was in their relationship. They purposefully invited Him into it, and they didn’t wait to invite Him. In fact, they did this before they came to me for premarital counseling.  

They were open to what the Lord wanted to do. They both wanted more of Him, and during our time together, they learned to listen more to His voice and to really care for each other’s heart. They learned how to communicate about the things they still needed to learn as a couple, and they did this beautifully.

Today, if you are single and hoping to meet the person God has for you, look over this article and ask yourself, “How can I apply these steps to my story? Where can I trust Him more? Where am I afraid?”

Think about what it would be like to know that your heavenly Father is for you, and that He loves you, and that no matter what, the outcome for you will be good.

Your heavenly Father loves you more than you realize. Other articles from Salomé Roat and Becoming the One:

• How Can I Trust God When He Hasn’t Brought My Spouse Yet?

• Want to Strengthen Your Dating Relationship? Allow God to Love You

• Loneliness Is Not Your Story! The Lord’s Heart Beats for You

• Is Your Marriage Under Attack? Seek Wisdom

For more information on sex, marriage, and finding the person who is right for you, get a copy of Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.