Where Is Prince Charming Hiding?

With light brown hair and a muscular build, the tall young man smiled at me. I looked up at his charming eyes and couldn’t help but melt. How had I ended up with such a great guy?

Then realized I hadn’t. Because I woke up.

Still Dreaming

Sometimes, I wonder when all my dreams about marrying Prince Charming will come true. I’ve been thinking about him since I was a little girl. I still own the picture I drew of me singing with a then-popular musician who I had a crush on. I now realize that a celebrity marriage is highly unlikely, but why does it seem like a regular, everyday marriage would also be highly unlikely?

I know I’m not the only single one left. It’s true that not all my friends are dating or married. In fact, a lot of them are single.

But for some reason, I still feel abnormal.

Our society places so much emphasis on guy-girl relationships. Most movies and tv shows involve some form of romance. Countless secular songs revolve around infatuation or love. Romance novels line the shelves in stores.

So isn’t it normal to dream about meeting my Prince Charming?

Instead of Despairing

When we dream about Prince Charming, we—perhaps inadvertently—become impatient with God’s plan. Instead of learning to be content in our current circumstances, we fantasize about future circumstances. We also create unrealistic expectations about what dating and marriage will be like. After all, what guy on this earth can match Prince Charming?

Waiting for marriage is certainly challenging—especially when we keep hearing the wedding march and keep receiving wedding invitations. But waiting isn’t a curse. It’s a very normal part of life—and it grows our faith because it increases our trust in God and cultivates patience. David understood the challenges of waiting:

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14 NASB)

This is my dad’s favorite verse because he had to wait over 30 years to meet my mom. But God brought them together. He had good in store for my parents long before they even met.

God has good in store for you, too, dear friend. If it is God’s will, Prince Charming will come. He may come in 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years. Yes, the wait is long and exhausting. But we can never believe the lie that God is holding out on us.

We will despair unless we believe that God will show us His goodness (27:13). Instead of despairing, you must “let your heart take courage” (27:14). At the exact right time, God can bring your future husband (or wife) into your life.

For now, we must wait and take courage. God will show us His goodness.