Heart’s Desire

When I got married five years ago, I lived and worked outside my home country while my husband was living and working at home.

The first year of our marriage was tough as we lived apart and could meet only once every several months. We had agreed to look for work where the other person was. Whoever secured employment first would determine where the other spouse would move. But deep down in my heart, I was praying my husband would be the one to move. We both kept this situation on our list of prayer petitions.

One Monday afternoon in February, two months before our first wedding anniversary, I attended our usual Monday lunch-hour prayer time at work.

While sharing our prayer petitions, one of the elders said we needed to pray for God’s divine intervention as all of us in the room that day were living away from our families. Something stirred inside of me, and I decided to do more.

I had applied for a job in one of the international organizations in my home country the previous December. So I decided to begin fasting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday that month and praying that my job application would be accepted. My first fast was on a Wednesday. On Thursday, the very next day, I received an email from the international organization to which I had applied.

The email invited me to complete a written assessment. I was over the moon with joy and praised God for the answered prayer.

Yet I continued with my fast. On the last day of February, which was a Monday, I received another email from the organization, inviting me for an oral interview. I got the job and moved back home in June of that year.

I was amazed at God’s faithfulness to me, of which I was not deserving. Many previous times, I felt God had not answered my prayers according to my heart’s desires. Yet when I remember what He has done for me, I know His answer is for my own good and according to His will. May you always remember to praise the King of kings for the times He has granted your heart’s desires and even for the times you have felt He has not, for His plans are not to harm us.

Chipiliro Chonze Santhe