I THINK I MARRIED THE WRONG PERSON

       Help! I blew it BIGTIME. I married the wrong girl! I don't know what came over me. It all happened so fast! Now I am afraid that I missed your call on my life. What can I do?

Dear "Bigtime",

       First, remember that God's gifts and callings are without repentance. God hasn't changed His mind or His plans regarding your life. He always remains faithful, even when we do not. (Phillipians 1:6 &1 Thessalonians 5:24)

       Many people end up marrying the "wrong" person because they are anxious to be with someone. God's Word tells us to "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Phillipians 4:6) If we truly trust God we will be willing to wait until He brings it to pass.

       God also encourages us to seek counsel, wisdom, and sound advice before we make important decisions. Proverbs 11:14 says that "where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in a multitude of counselors there is safety." Most people who run off and marry the "wrong" person usually do so because they either haven't sought good counsel beforehand; or they were wisely advised, but chose to ignore it.

       Here's the good news: God will meet you where you are.

       Abraham and Sarah were promised a child by God. After waiting many years...and still no child, they decided to take matters into their own hands. Sarah told her husband, Abraham, to take Hagar, her handmaid as his secondary wife, and to have a child with her since she, Sarai, was barren. She figured that by this action God would give them the promised child. This was not God's plan at all, and caused trouble for all involved. (Read Genesis 16-18)

       Fortunately, God is in the business of making miracles out of mistakes! Not only did He give Abraham and Sarah the child He had promised them (after they were obedient and sent Hagar and her child away); but God also met Hagar and her son, Ishmael, when they were facing death in the desert. "And God heard the voice of the youth, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, What troubles you Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the youth where he is." (Genesis 21:17) Cry out to God! He will hear you and answer you.

       None of us have arrived. We are all in the process of becoming. There is only one who is perfect, and "I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phillipians 1:6)

Gail Ramsey, an ordained minister, portrayed the role of Susan Moore on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. She had other roles on the TV programs Mike Hammer, Generations and California Dreams. Today, Ramsey leads Semeion Ministries, where readers can write her at P.O. Box 77, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43063.