Having Faith For The Love Of Your Life

According to a study performed by Nanos Research commissioned by The Globe and Mail, we are in a dating recession.¹The study revealed that among 1077 Canadian adults who largely want to be in a committed relationship, only 8% are actively dating. Barriers include high living costs (56%), dating app exhaustion (78%) and general hopelessness. These findings parallel U.S. trends, with more people living alone. These are discouraging and perhaps relatable statistics. 

 

In a culture where dating often feels confusing, discouraging, or even exhausting, the Bible offers a surprisingly hopeful perspective on finding the love of your life.

This past weekend, our campus pastors preached a message entitled, “How To Face The Future”, focusing on the faith of Isaac, God’s promised son to Abraham and Sarah. Isaac had faith in his father and he also had faith when he blessed both of his sons, Jacob and Esau. But did you know Isaac also had faith while he was waiting for the love of his life? Isaac’s love story gives us 3 strategies for overcoming the dating recession today: #1 – prioritize spiritual alignment and shared mission, #2 – pray and take wise steps while trusting God to guide you, and #3 – look for Christlike character above everything else. 

In Genesis 24:3-4, Abraham has his most trusted servant make an oath to God that he would not find a wife for Isaac among the surrounding Canaanites, but rather, from Abraham’s own country and his own family. In those times it was very common to have parents arrange marriages for their children that would result in family alliances with shared values, shared beliefs, a preservation of cultural identity, and in this case, a covenant loyalty to God. It would have been much easier to have Abraham ask his servant to look for a wife locally, than to have to travel 3-5 weeks from Canaan to Mesopotamia with a camel caravan, many gifts and additional servants in a hot climate. Instead, Abraham chose to prioritize spiritual alignment and shared mission, rather than convenience, attraction, or status. Abraham remained steadfast in his faith that God’s promise to give him many descendants would come to pass even beyond his lifetime. Therefore, he knew it would be vital for his son, Isaac, to marry someone who worshiped God the way their family did. Isaac, at 40 years old, continued to have faith in his father, trusting that the servant chosen would be successful in finding a suitable wife for him.

 

How do you walk in faith for the love of your life today? Decide in advance to prioritize looking for someone who has a shared faith in Jesus Christ, who has godly biblical values, and who has a similar desire to serve God, being obedient to Him. Marriage works best when both husband and wife are moving in the same spiritual direction. As Amos 3:3 reminds us, two people must agree on a direction to move if they want to walk together. Keeping this in mind will prevent you from wavering and being confused about who is a good dating partner. 

In Genesis 24:11–14, Abraham’s servant arrives outside the city of Nahor and intentionally stops at a well in the evening, the usual time women would come to draw water, and he prays to God. He asks God for guidance and clarity about who Isaac’s wife should be. But notice that his faith is not passive. He positions himself wisely in a place where people would gather, and then he asks God to reveal the right person through a test of character. Abraham had already declared earlier in the chapter that God would send His angel ahead of the servant, and the servant had faith in that promise as he stepped forward. Faith and wisdom worked together—he prayed sincerely, positioned himself intentionally, and trusted that God would guide the outcome.

 

How do you walk in faith for the love of your life today? Pray honestly and consistently about your future spouse, while also taking wise steps forward. Place yourself in environments where people who share your faith and values gather—church communities, Christian volunteer teams, and Christ-centred activities. Ask God for discernment and clarity, but also remain open to the opportunities He places before you. Faith is not sitting still waiting for something to magically happen; it is walking forward with God while trusting Him to direct your path. As Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us, when we trust the Lord with all our hearts and acknowledge Him in our decisions, He promises to make our paths straight. Though the process of dating has its uncertainties, you can be confident in God’s love for you and His guidance in your life. 

When the servant finally encounters Rebekah at the well, he asks a simple question: “Please give me a little drink of water.” Rebekah respectfully responds and then offers to draw water for all ten of the camels as well (Genesis 24:17–20). This was no small gesture. A thirsty camel can drink 20–25 gallons of water, and with ten camels present, Rebekah may have drawn hundreds of gallons of water, carrying jars of roughly 3–5 gallons at a time. This likely required dozens of trips to the well. Without realizing it, Rebekah demonstrated extraordinary kindness, humility, generosity, initiative, and diligence—all qualities that revealed her character. The servant stood back in silence and wonder, watching carefully to see if God had truly answered his prayer (Genesis 24:21). The sign he prayed for was never about appearance or status; it was about identifying someone whose heart reflected godly character. Rebekah was this person, and she also demonstrated godly faith by believing the servant’s story of how the Lord led him to find her in his search for Isaac’s wife. 

 

How do you walk in faith for the love of your life today? Pay close attention to character. Attraction may capture attention, but character sustains a healthy marriage. Look for someone who demonstrates humility, kindness, generosity, and a genuine love for others. These are the kinds of qualities that reflect the heart of Christ and create the foundation for a strong and lasting relationship. As 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us, real love is patient, kind, and not self-seeking. When someone consistently lives out these qualities, it reveals a heart that is being shaped by Jesus. In the process of dating, allow yourself to learn from past dating experiences and keep seeking what matters most. 

 

The dating recession described earlier reveals that many people feel discouraged, uncertain, and hesitant when it comes to relationships. Yet the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24 reminds us that faith still has a powerful role to play in how we approach love today. Isaac’s story shows us three timeless strategies: prioritize spiritual alignment and shared mission, pray and take wise steps while trusting God to guide you, and look for Christlike character above everything else.

 

These strategies matter because they protect us from many of the common challenges that fuel today’s dating struggles. Prioritizing shared faith removes confusion about values and life direction. Prayer and wise action replace fear with trust in God’s guidance. Focusing on character helps us see beyond surface-level attraction to the deeper qualities that sustain lifelong commitment. When these three priorities guide our approach to relationships, we begin to move from anxiety and uncertainty toward clarity, peace, and hope.

 

The story of Isaac and Rebekah also reminds us of something deeply encouraging: while Isaac was waiting and praying in the field (Genesis 24:63), God was already bringing the answer toward him. In the same way, when we walk faithfully with God, He is able to work behind the scenes in ways we cannot see. Even in a dating recession, God is able to guide hearts, orchestrate circumstances, and write beautiful love stories for those who trust Him.