My fiancé, Steve, and I met only a year and a month ago, been dating for eight and a half months, and are to be married in four. In our day and age that is abnormally quick and often seen to be irrational. Many loved ones have expressed concern to us and, honestly, I appreciate them loving us enough to approach us.

If you are in this category of concerned people, I understand because I've been there. I have seen both family and friends (including a brother and a bridesmaid) who have had similar speedy relationships that raised concern. To be honest they don't fit the mold of reason that our culture presents us. Culturally we are told to know the person inside and out before we could ever have enough information to be assured that the marriage can last. That's entirely reasonable.

I suppose you could call me a hypocrite for having such concerns with others having such short relationships before pursuing a lifelong marriage, but now I understand. I am not saying that all relationships should be so short since I have seen an equal amount of friends and family take years and years before marriage came into the picture.

In a world of uncertainty we grasp for ways to find assurance. Some people find assurance in time, Steve and I have found assurance elsewhere.

Back in high school one of my classmates came was engaged to marry...in high school! How absurd, the class agreed upon hearing the news. But really it wasn't out of the norm for her and her family. A few days later our teacher brought in some information on arranged marriages. Arranged marriages have been cultural for centuries throughout the ages, just not the past century. That's just not our culture in America, these days. The only arranged marriages are seen through popular dating sites that match up compatibility, but even those aren't seen to be 'arranged' per say, they are seen as filtering those whom we date.

Steve and I did not meet via any website, however I consider us to having had an arranged marriage. It was not our parents who arranged it, nor was it a friend who set us up on a blind date. No, we had a different kind of arranged marriage. Ours was arranged and designed by God. I do not say this to justify any sense of rushed behavior, in fact that fact is the only way I could go through with such a quick marriage. I had it in my mind that I would want to know my future spouse for years upon years. It made sense in that it offered a feeling of security.

But this is different.

I have an assurance I can only explain this way; that just as God made me, He made us for one another. It is not that we are head over heels for each other (though there is no love and desire lacking in our relationship), it is not that we are perfectly compatible for each other (though our differences cause us to grow every day...like it or not. Haha), it is simply that God brought us together and God kept us together. My commitment to God goes entirely hand in hand with my commitment to Steve.  While I see our relationship as such a blessing in my life and I love him so much, I recognize that it is also an act of obedience to God. Our relationship is an act of worship to God out of obedience, and what a blessing it is that I desire this relationship just as much. When I doubt our relationship I do not run to any aspect of Steve's character or his love for me, I run to God...and peace kicks out any doubt out of my mind.

Culturally, we don't know each other well enough for marriage. Culturally, we don't have enough proof that we will last. Culturally, we are not being reasonable getting married so soon. But God is bigger than that. God brought us together, kept us together, and He also leads us together and He is leading us to marriage in this timeframe. As terrifying as it is for me to disregard the reason I abided by for so long, to date for years before marriage, I have faith.

When the lovey feelings fade, when circumstances in life alter our personalities, when age increases and boredom tries to knock on our door...I have assurance in God.