Sometimes it feels as though it takes God forever to answer. Other times, He seems to answer instantaneously.

A few days ago, I wondered aloud whether or not having a partner, a mate, would have made the last trying month of my life easier to handle. I wondered whether or not I had reached the point where I was ready to make finding someone — anyone — a life goal.

I found my answer the very next day.

She was pretty. She was in my ideal age range. She was educated. She had a good job. And she seemed to very much be into me.

And all I could think when I saw her was this: “Yeah, but she’s not __________.”

I had my answer.

Do I want to find someone? Yes. But I’m not the kind of person who dates for the sake of dating. I never have been. And while this trying period of my life the last few weeks would have been easier to handle if I’d had someone to help me get through it, the fact of the matter is I got through it all the same. I made it through to the other side. I’m alive. I’m doing okay.

There is someone special out there for me. And I will be with her, whether she’s someone I already know or a total stranger, when the time is right. But I will not settle in the meantime. I will not go along with whomever happens to come along.

I will live my life, day by day, the best I can. And with the Lord’s help, all my heart’s desires will be delivered to me someday in the not-too-distant future. When I’m ready.

And if that doesn’t work, there are always mail-order Russian brides.