This blog was written in response to Support a Catholic Speaker Month on Fallible Blogma. Check out Fallible Blogma, FlockNote and TweetCatholic for other great Catholic sites from Matthew Warner.

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In September, I had the privilege of attending a Magnificat Meal with my friend Juli. It was one of those things I hadn’t signed up for, but Juli’s family had an extra ticket and apparently God required my attendance. I’ve spent the last month allowing my heart to process the messages I received that day from the keynote speaker, Stephanie Wood.

Once Stephanie started speaking, I leaned over to Juli and whispered, “This is a woman after my own heart.” As Stephanie began to share the story of her life, I noticed a stirring in my soul: This is exactly where you are suppose to be. This story is for you.

Stephanie Wood is the coordinator of NextWave Faithful, which is the young adult division of Family Life Center International.  For the past five years, she has worked with the EWTN Radio as a host on a talk radio show for Catholic young adults, called “NextWave Live”. In addition to these responsibilities, Stephanie is a speaker and writer who focuses her outreach to young adults. And for the past five years, she has narrowed her outreach to single young adults.

Ah, single young adults. The “single” part of that title has become more and more obvious to me since I turned 25 three months ago. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy every aspect of my state of life. God continually blesses me with opportunities, friendships and other commitments that wouldn’t be possible if “single” wasn’t attached to my demographic title. However,  people have now started to ask, “Are you seeing anyone? What are your plans for the future?” and so on and so forth. Then comes the feigned response to my answer:  “Well, good for you! No need to rush. There’s someone special out there for you.”

Those particular types of “pep talks” have done more harm than good and have lead me to blindly believe I was singular in this feeling. And then I heard Stephanie’s talk. She didn’t say anything that was new, nor did she offer a remedy for my feelings, instead, she shared her love story. It was filled with joys and sorrow, hardships and abundance and even a little loneliness as a single young adult. Who would have thought that someone else shared in my struggle?

Stephanie’s talk peaked as she shared her what she calls, “My Turn“. In an effort not to destory the beauty of this journey, I will summarize. Just when Stephanie thought God had forgotten about finding her a husband, He introduced Peter (her now husband) into her life. It was unexpected for her, but it was easy to see that God knew and  had planned every last detail of her love story as she stood before us as Mrs. Stephanie Wood Weinert.

Now, how does this stir my heart? It’s not that I am on a mad hunt for Mr. Right, but it  has certain ties to similar emotions regarding the future. What am I called to do? How is God preparing my heart? What’s my love story (religious, single or married) going to be about? These questions of the future often lead my heart and soul into a wrestling match with my brain and from there, it’s a battle to take to prayer.

Amidst the questions of insecurity, Stephanie’s talk gently reminded me that in all things God is the author and creator. Nothing comes into being without His knowledge. Stephanie quoted Proverbs 3:5-6 (the verse from my first ACTS retreat), “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

I do not know the future. I will never know the future. God moves, plans and directs our lives in ways unknown to us, but as God has shown me in my life, He always provides for my good. I find great hope in the faith God has given me with this verse from John,  “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.”  (John 14: 18-19)