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At my church, we have a women’s ministry Facebook group page. We often post prayer requests, devotionals or inspiring quotes to get each other through a tough week. However, anyone in our group knows I love to use that page to ask questions.

I have gone to church for as long as I can remember, and yet I still have questions that maybe no one has answers to; that doesn’t stop me from asking them though.

My question this week was: Can you make a bargain with God?

Before you all begin questioning, I’ll explain.

When I was younger, my friend went through a terrible breakup. It was the first real heartbreak I had seen in my friend. She didn’t want to eat or leave or her room. She lost weight and really wasn’t herself anymore.

Being young, I dared to make a bargain. I prayed to God that if He could just make my friend happy again and let their relationship be repaired, I could learn to live without someone; I could be happy on my own and didn’t need a boyfriend, just as long as she was happy with hers.

God listened.

The relationship was patched up for a little while, and my friend became her old self. Much to my dismay, I think that means my end of the bargain still holds up as well, or maybe God knows I was desperate and was doing this for someone else’s happiness and just hasn’t sent someone yet?

Lately, I’ve been regretting that bargain more and more. I see my friends getting married and engaged, and I wonder if that will ever be me or have I doomed my chances to save someone else’s relationship?

My women’s ministry page said you cannot make a bargain; God has a perfect plan and you are to submit to that.

Despite their reassurance, I was still scared and searched on the Internet.

Maple Glen Church provided me with a scriptural example of Abraham pleading with the Lord over the fate of Sodom. Abraham asked if there are fifty righteous people would the Lord still sweep away the city. The Lord told Abraham, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

So, have I secured my fate as a single woman forever?

We are supposed to keep our promises no matter what, especially those made to God. But, ironically God can also read minds, so he knows why I made that bargain and what was really on my heart.

We all make bargains at our most desperate hour. We promise to change or to be better, if just this will happen. But, I say be careful what you bargain for because there’s no going back once it’s over. Instead, pray that God fills their heart with joy and that you can only add to that joy when it’s all said and done.