I came to church on June 12, 2004, which in Brazil, is Valentine’s Day. I was feeling completely rejected and humiliated. My boyfriend at the time had just broken up with me that same day.

I believe that for most people Valentine’s Day is a day of dreams, expectations, declarations of love, etc, and it would have meant the same for me if it hadn’t marked the end of my relationship. I cursed the fact that that day ever happened.

I was so stunned and hurt that I swore that I would never associate this day with happiness. From that point on, Valentine’s Day would represent sadness and humiliation because I would always remember this huge breakup.

That year, June 12th fell on a Saturday. I decided to attend the Therapy of Love meeting at the Universal Church. Even though I was feeling extremely miserable, I gathered enough strength and went. I knew I would be able to find an answer for everything that was happening to me there.

When the service started the pastor asked all those who were going through problems in their love lives to come to the front of the altar. I went without hesitation. During the prayer, I felt so strongly that God was holding and comforting me. At that moment, I told God that I would never have another serious relationship with anyone who wasn’t born of Him.

The following Saturday, we began the Campaign of Israel. Gradually, I began understanding what the campaign was all about. Even though I had been replaced and rejected, I was still hopeful that my ex-boyfriend would come back to me, even if he wasn’t the right person for me.

I gave my sacrifice and sent my request. Several days passed and I had no answer. But instead of being sad or resentful towards God, I thanked Him for not giving me what I had asked for. Only He knew what the future held for me, whether it was good or bad.

I continued persevering. I reached a point that I no longer had feelings for my ex. I was persistent in my chains of prayer; I evangelised, and remained in faith. And again, it was time for another campaign.

This time I was more spiritually mature, and I decided to leave my love life in God’s hands. I remembered what Mrs. Ester once said during one of her services at the Cathedral in Rio de Janeiro, a message which was also published in the Folha Universal, a Brazilian UCKG newspaper, that year. She said that we shouldn’t be concerned about the physical appearance of our future loved one, but instead we should ask God to prepare the right person for us. And not only would they want to make us happy, but that person would also be our perfect match.

That was the answer to my prayers. On the day of my sacrifice, I asked God for exactly what I had read. I sacrificed and waited, certain that I would be answered sooner or later.

Take a look at what happened: the Campaign of Israel took place in January 2005. In February, I started to get to know a young man that always sat next to me in church, but I had never noticed him before (and vice versa). We started dating a few months later, and on June 12, 2005, exactly 1 year after I had come to the church feeling broken and destroyed, God lifted me up. God honoured me so much and was so good to me that He transformed the saddest day of my life into the greatest day filled with happiness. A year later, I was married and today I’m truly happy. I don’t think there could a better match for me in the world other than my husband.

I believe that when we sacrifice and truly sacrifice our all for God, He honours us. It doesn’t matter how long it takes because for the Owner of the Universe, time is the least of His concerns. Honestly, I didn’t imagine receiving an answer in my love life the very month after the campaign.

Maybe that’s why I was blessed so quickly: I wasn’t expecting it. What I mean is, there was no room inside my heart for anxiety. I was absolutely certain that my blessing would come and that made me happy. I knew that He wouldn’t leave me helpless in any way.

That’s how God works: when we’re not desperately looking for a blessing, even though we desire it very much, God answers quickly. I think it’s because he doesn’t want anything to take His place in our hearts.

In faith,

Jaqueline Corrêa