💖💍A Love Story of Fourteen Years of God's Faithfulness

Fourteen years. Time has flown, and yet in those years we’ve lived a lifetime. We’ve laughed, wept, stumbled, and risen again. We’ve been blessed with four beautiful children, sold one townhome, lived in rentals, bought another home, and walked through seasons of both financial hardship and unexpected blessings. There were years when we had more than enough, and years when every dollar had to be stretched.

Life threw its share of challenges—like the day a deer struck our van, leaving us without a family vehicle for over a year. We managed with one small car, adjusting our days and routines around it. Friendships, too, have come and gone, some for a season, some for life. And yet, through it all, God’s faithfulness never wavered.

Not every chapter was struggle—many were filled with wonder. We’ve taken trips outside Minnesota, traveling to different states just to soak in the beauty of God’s creation. Some of those adventures were carefully planned, others completely spontaneous. And this is part of the beautiful design of our marriage: I’m naturally a quieter, steady, stay-grounded kind of person, while God gave me a husband who is adventurous and spontaneous. At times, it has felt like being opposites—like the plus and minus on a battery. But together, those differences make us whole. His boldness has often nudged me out of my comfort zone, showing me how to embrace the unexpected and see God’s beauty in places I might never have gone on my own.

Through the roses and the thorns, I learned to pray. Prayer became not just words, but life itself. Everything we have today is built on prayer. We prayed, we waited, and then we waited some more. And in His perfect timing, God always gave. He is never late, though at times the waiting felt like eternity. Looking back now, I see it so clearly: had He answered earlier, we might have missed blessings that came only by waiting. His “delays” were never denials—they were divine preparations for something better.

But one thing has never changed: our God.

Through every valley and every mountaintop, through sunshine and storm, He was there.

Some days felt like gentle breezes, others like heavy rains, and still others like climbing steep mountains with weary feet. Yet it was in the struggle that faith grew strong. I’ve seen with my own eyes that the Living God still answers prayer.

This is not because of our strength—because we fail, we wander. But Christ Jesus, the Son of God, is-

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

He bore our sins on the cross, conquered death, and gave us hope eternal. His faithfulness is the thread that holds our story together.

And when God gives—He gives the very best. He created me, He knows me better than I know myself, and He knew exactly what I would need in this life. In His wisdom, He gave me a husband who has been God’s instrument of shaping, strengthening, and encouraging me. Without his influence, support, and partnership, I would not be the woman I am today. This too is the goodness of the Lord—that He provides not only salvation in Christ, but also daily mercies and earthly gifts that help us walk out our calling.

Marriage has taught me this: love is not just a feeling, it’s a covenant. And the truest covenant is the one God made with us through the blood of Jesus. He never breaks His promises.

“If we are faithless, He remains Faithful-for He cannot deny Himself. 2Timothy 2:13

So as I look back on 14 years, I see not just our story—but His story written over us. A testimony of grace, of mercy new every morning, of a God who never leaves nor forsakes His children.

The world shifts, people change, life takes unexpected turns—but He remains unchanging, steady, and forever faithful.

Friend, if you are reading this and find yourself searching—for love, for peace, for belonging—know this: there is a Living God, the God of the Bible. The same God who carried us through 14 years is the same God who sees you today. Nothing else will fill the emptiness in your heart—not people, not success, not possessions. That place was created for Christ alone.

If you are longing for hope in hardship, for joy that lasts beyond the moment, for a love that will never abandon you—look to Jesus Christ. He is the Savior who gave His life on the cross, rose again, and offers forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life. In Him there is happiness that doesn’t fade, peace that surpasses understanding, and a belonging that cannot be shaken.

This is my encouragement to you: seek Him. Open your heart to Him. Trust Him with your story. Because the same God who has been faithful to us will be faithful to you. Only Jesus Christ can fulfill the longing of your soul.

Here’s to 14 years behind us, and eternity before us—in Christ alone.

Natalya