My Story: When “The One” Wasn’t God’s Best Fit
He was my best friend in high school. We shared a love for God, the outdoors, and spent countless hours together. We started dating my senior year of high school and continued dating into college. I thought he was “The One”.
So, when he proposed—flying us to a restaurant only accessible by small planes—I eagerly said yes. We began planning our summer wedding after graduation.
But during our engagement, especially in premarital counseling, doubts surfaced. I began questioning if we were indeed the best fit for a lifetime together. Red flags emerged—different career goals, shifting dreams, and mismatched expectations for the future. The comfort of our history made it hard to see clearly at first.
Eventually, we made the heartbreaking decision to call off the engagement. It was one of the hardest choices I’ve ever made.
A year later, I met a man in my church’s young adult group—someone I had somehow never crossed paths with before. We evantually started dating, and now, 22 years later, I can confidently say he is “God’s best fit for me.” He was worth the wait.
Why I’m Passionate About Premarital Counseling
That experience, along with my background in counseling, gave me a passion for helping couples build healthy relationships. I’m a strong advocate for both premarital counseling and ongoing marriage coaching.
My marriage isn’t perfect—no one’s is—but I truly believe that the foundation we built early on has helped us navigate challenges, grow stronger, and enjoy a lasting relationship.
Counseling gave us tools for:
- Effective communication
- Conflict resolution
- Understanding each other’s needs and expectations
- Leaning on coaching and counseling in hard seasons
I’ve heard some Christians say, “If you find a partner who loves Jesus, everything else will just fall into place.” But statistics prove that even for Christians, things don’t actually just “fall into place.”Â
Couples need more than good intentions to build a marriage that lasts.
Create a Marriage Worth Investing In
Taking the time to build a strong, fulfilling marriage is one of the most important investments you will ever make.
Whether you’re newly engaged or simply considering marriage, I’d love to walk this journey with you. But even if you don’t choose me, I encourage you—find a premarital counselor, coach, or program that equips you for marriage.
Don’t leave the most important relationship of your life to chance. Build it with intention, wisdom, and the right tools.
👉 [Find all the details about premarital coaching here and schedule your free initial session.]
With joy,
Ashley Bowman
