Behind The Match: The Love Stories That Remind Me Why I Became A Matchmaker

Some love stories are simply too incredible not to share.

In this episode of 1 True Talks, Renee opens her heart and shares some of the most unforgettable stories from her years as a Christian matchmaker. From impossible long-distance relationships and second chances after heartbreak to widows finding love again and couples who discovered that God’s plan was greater than their own, each story is a powerful reminder that God is always working for our good behind the scenes.

Along the way, Renee shares practical wisdom for singles navigating dating, waiting, and preparing for marriage. She reminds us that healthy relationships begin with surrendered hearts, intentional preparation, and trusting God’s perfect timing. Whether you’re praying for your future spouse, healing from a past relationship, or simply wondering if God has forgotten your story, this episode offers hope, encouragement, and the reminder that your story isn’t behind, it’s still being written.

In this episode:
❤️ Real matchmaking stories that only God could orchestrate
🙏 Why God’s timing is always worth the wait
💍 Lessons on healthy, Christ-centered dating
🌱 How God prepares hearts before bringing people together
✨ Hope for anyone feeling discouraged in their waiting season

Transcript

Why These Love Stories Matter

Renee Richel 0:04

Hello, loves. Welcome back. Today's episode is a little different. And honestly, it's one of my favorites to share. Love stories that reminded me why I do what I do every single day. Because instead of just teaching in breaking something down, I want to bring you into something very real. I want to share a few of my favorite love stories that there are so many that I'm just picking and choosing that come tough of mine that were really unique during my journey. The kinds that remind me why I do what I do. Because behind the scenes, matchmakings, there are so many moments that God orchestrates more than any of us can imagine. So some of the beautiful things that they say to me during this journey is really fun to share that I think is also eye-opening as well as good to hear when we sometimes need to slow down when there's uncertainty. And these stories I hope inspire you. So

The Impossible Match That Worked

Renee Richel 1:12

the first one I'm going to share is what I would call one of the more impossible matches. There was distance, there was age, there was uh, you know, particulars and pickiness and all the things that I know when we talk about our needs and wants are non-negotiables, and you share it with the Lord of what it is we're looking for. That list was long and it was very detailed. You say so. Most important, not a bitch white base. And this client, not only was there distance from one side of the country to the other, this client came to me through the Lord in the timing that he wanted to fuel. So he started off not a strong Christian and his literally his best life, super successful, getting into, I would say, circles that weren't leading him direction that he was today. One of his top mentors in his industry and his profession of Wookie Drake, he asked him, What is it that you do with the super socks to chew up? And he put in a Bible. I love this story. He said, You this on the cover. You will have all the unseatious seat. From that day, he surrendered his life to the Lord, and truly through that journey is why he chose us to represent his part for true love in building guidance. So, which is very successful cast. What he was missing most was having somebody to rep this up on and should we vet through, you know, the individuals that were right for him. He was with us a little bit longer, I think, than any of us had would imagine. There were many trips out to meet up with him or him clawing in, and just getting to me all high and better. Who he ended up choosing, which is his lovely bride today and mother of their beautiful son that they have, they share their homes between one side of the country and the other. And they make it work, and he's spending times up in the north and then in the south, which is everybody's dream. Right? And she was a, he still is a super successful businesswoman. And three of the polities that he asked and that he told you, I definitely don't want this. I definitely would prefer not to have that. But there are certain particulars that I also want to fold morals, dowies, and galleps in. And so I heard all of it introducing to people that were like hitting the mark of who he was looking for. Things meekly cooching paws in conversation. Finally, the Lord led us to his beautiful bride today. And the journey was just beginning at you, we may bet and bakshi. He says infection, so he was tired, he was exhausted. We were starting to feel like Lord, why, when, who is this one? And then he brings us his perfect he, who is now his bride for the rest of his life, that they are so happy and yard together, and that we're shocked and be that wise. In us two that were surfing Loming Park work. God truly orchestrated that relationship to give them the toys, to give them the design of the answers, that they were the one for each other. So after I get it was a two or three weeks, you know, dating, dating into months down the road, there was pickups that happened. And me say with our clients, it is so beneficial that they had us to call when things arose and their relationship of their busyness, the differences now, light together, the challenges and uh distance and and wanting to spend every minute together, beginning April, and they spend every minute they can now together, raising beautiful beans. And so I say that that it is it takes a village to not only find Shiva, but also nurture a relationship for them to then start to see by God aligned. Not us, not them, but why they're doing great things today.

Widowhood Healing And A Second Marriage

Renee Richel 5:17

Another amazing client that I want to share this incredible story on was a former judge that became one of our clients that is happily married and matched today, were widowed. And so they already had this even of true vibe and were searching for it again. And obviously, super strong Christian, beautiful family, and they are now happily married in a blended, beautiful family scenario. And the gentleman that he actually found that is now her husband, he we met him, I would say six or nine months before we actually did the introduction. And he was going oh going through the wasp of a woman that he was dating for several years that was a tragic hat symptom. And so while we were scouting and hunting and searching for individuals, he shared his whole story and he said, I'm not sure if I'm ready yet, but I do know that I want true Rava Dad. I experienced it, I know I do. I just would like one that is gonna last forever. Knowing what our kindness can say, knowing what she was looking for, we obviously needed to be patient and continue as doing our work for Bod until he made six years, timing this everything. And there were certain things that he didn't completely hit the mark, of course, on our client's checklist, which is always part of the hurdle until our client then sees tasks would it be that they're think they want that God makes bare for them. So P.S. We introduce our client to different individuals during that time, and God was making clear those were not the right patches. And about nine or six, I no, I can it's like nine or ten months after this particular gentleman that is now her husband, he circled back around and checked in how we was doing, and has like, I'm ready. Get some travel to do, so it took a couple more weeks until we could actually introduce them. And they obviously hit it off. You couldn't stop talking. But miraculous story of that is ton. And there were certain things that she was saying no to in that season, introducing her to other people, that this client was, but God knew, obviously, is orchestrating the two of them, but she started to look past those particulars because she was starting to really focus on the long-term goals of what's most important. So by the time we introduced her to now her a mailing husband, the little things she was nitpicking on early on surely became kings that she learned and felt in love with. And those little things that are things like you be how somebody dresses or how somebody like does the little things, it's just so easy to, you know, share, to help with, to change in the sense of fashion, I always say, or whatever it is. And sure enough, I will never forget on their wedding day. That moment of taking that photo, I love doing that with our matched couples, the two of their shining faces together, that they really trusted in the Lord more than Egan. And they trusted in us to bring them that individual that might use the world to them, that changes their families, that changes their lives together, became the three of them are much stronger in God's single doing his work more than what you can imagine. And they had some uh hurdles than continuing after marriage with even their kids, doing true lives, had college-age children now, and them starting to be in their sevens. But because they not only have us, but they also have their own support in the churches and pastors and friends that are so in support of their love, they were able to navigate through that season to come out stronger on the other hand. So, and what I love more than anything about this particular story is we were at a charity event and some we actually got pinepted and her friends were pushing her. It's time to meet somebody and give them a chia. So I also love when there's support behind our clients, also encouraging them, being their bit as true eater, that know that, you know, with the Lord's help and with the team, he will make it clear when teepees are truly ready.

After Betrayal Learning To Trust Again

Renee Richel 9:47

This next particular story I'm gonna share with you. It's another long distance uh introduction that they just got married, gosh, I think about two weeks ago. And this particular client came from a couple of different match managers that he did work with before. And he was pretty scarred, I would say, from just the letdown of unfortunately it not working out. And one of the other companies that he worked with, he actually married that individual, but then found out she was not anything that she had shared she was. And things happen, right? We also understand, but we want to be very sure when we're making a marriage decision that we're asking all the big topic questions up front. So when he was working with us, it was foreign and new to him how much we dove into his journey and who he was and his hindline from Utero to who he is today, to also heal and forgive any things from the past so that he could be really ready and whole of himself to be through the robber. And so I remember working with him for several months and when you were in adoptions and you were in the scene pirates. To quickly change the way that he was showing up, he's starting to think about who he was gonna be matched to, because that was something that was leading to seeing results. So after I don't even know, I want to say probably six, seven, eight months. We were fine getting to the right individuals, and what I love about this client, he was all he was somebody that like when Kenny went on a first date, his mission was to get to like months two. And I loved his heart, and I still do to this day, how how just loyal and dedicated he is to you know who is in front of him at that moment. There was always something that was not fast. And we had somebody that was coming to us that was looking to be on a continent. So we were so excited when she watched In Out The War, we'd be at the right time to then introduce her to our fight. And they also had a story where they showed Mat about three months earlier, but the Lord was clearly precking both of them through, you know, different introductions. She uh was also going through a season in her work she really needed to complete so that she could open up heart for this long distance relationship. And today, which is so exciting, they are hoping, after a long time waiting, to start a family. They are a little bit older and wiser, but both no children, and have the heart's desire, if this is God's will, to continue to grow their relationship. In working with both of them, they both came from, like I said earlier, it's like past stories or also challenges that steered them in a wrong direction of what true love felt like. And this particular female, which is now beautiful wife, really wanted to wait until she found her piece bit. So there was a lot of pressure on our client to, you know, hold out for the first holding of hands, the first kiss, the first all of that, right? That I am so proud of her that she stuck to her grounds to then find for true love for our obviously company and just God's tiny that truly lured his wasis in his mission to find individuals, the right person at the right time. And today they are navigating still two locations. They more recently just got married, but they are working on one home, one location, and some relocation that also has to happen for them to sell off into their new life together as husband and wife. And I just cannot wait to see all the things that they wouldn't do and grow now having one beautiful yung together.

The Analytical Guy Learns To Pray

Renee Richel 14:05

Okay, another love story that comes to mind. This was a particular male client, one of our younger male clients. He had signed up, he had some done some other online services before coming to, you know, a botch style private NACI company. And on fire with the Lord, he has never been married poor on Mazapo slate, looking for his first and only bride, and really didn't have a lot of dating experience in his past. And so, and definitely somebody who was very analytical, I guess I would say, needed like a spreadsheet of how everything was gonna happen and how everything was to work out, and just couldn't understand the algorithm of true love, which is very hard to prove, right? In the sense of what two people God will see more than you can figure out on a spreadsheet. And so we went to the dating journey with him. He was to a point where he was dating somebody we didn't earn B C and they were dating for several months, but there were just certain things that were awe. And I'll never forget how much it broke his heart when he realized that was not the right one for him, and thought I would never find light of that. And I said, Stop saying that. That's why we're here for you. You're not doing this alone anywhere. So I started doing more weekly calls and conversations with him because he delayed and needed to be an asshole that nobody wants out there, we're all praying for him. I'll never forget the moment that I reminded him. He goes through in this needs and wants analysis and he pull out particular words that we have our clients and our team pray for. And I'll ask I asked, and am I supposed to be praying every single day? I said, when was the last time you told about that works? And is it by your bedside or by your cup of coffee? And are you paying for this proxy still every day? And he goes, I have to be honest, I'm not. I'll never forget the month. It is really too busy as an hardcore pain for the worst. He wrote down that we walked through it with and started, yeah, kind of Andrew's single day. And he's like, Alright, I'm gonna try this, right? And I will never forget when the Lord brought us is almost he's engaged right now with his future bride, and it was in the season of Perli, but she had only dated, I think, one or two people before, didn't have a ton of dating experience. And her challenge was she would always give it a peg. She had one relationship that wasn't healthy, and so it everything would always revert back to what if this happens, or what if this comes up, or in time, what if this is what so in their relationship particularly, I remembered setting up like repo calls almost for the very first month or so to help them start to change their patterns of dating and trust. And they were definitely, uh, we had some of our clients that after several months of dating, we had them dated 122 questions to get to know each other better before engagement. And that really opened him up to asking the top questions that they'd never asked before, that also was a different way of dating I never experienced. And so to have that coach, to have that moment with the clients when you watch them transform what God made them to be an even a better version because they have a loving mate on your bell. How doesn't bring us our exact mic? God brings us somebody that aligns not only equally yokes, but also aligns with what he knows will make us better together. And those things can be different and those things can be frustrating, those things can be like, you know, hard to understand. But then when we really dive deeper into who somebody is and your differences in personalities and how they pass us and how they communicate, it's amazing how you can then gain each other's strength through all of that. Can you have each other and God giving in different cools so that one can help when the other one can't, you vice versa. And in their relationship, in hundreds of our other married couples today, their relationships all thrive on the component of God giving sentiment life. And when they focus on that and on not their own thoughts but their own desires first, it's amazing how God is them clues along that journey of discernment to say, eight are better as one. And so what I love about that tuple about to get married, or so spite is um for them. They are younger, they are spited about Gurney journey. And I just I cannot wait to see all the things that I know as they will build together. They were a little bit of long distance, but I know he's been low-keying so that they can spend their time together.

A Father Hires Help For His Daughter

Renee Richel 19:13

And I'm gonna share one more story of it. It's really early on in my journey of working with our pions. And it was a father that hired us for his beautiful daughter. And she was young and uh 20, 22, 23, freshly out of college, had not met the love of her life. And the parents called us and said, My daughter will probably dissow me getting even calling you and having this conversation. But we just don't know what to do. Don't want to watch her go into bad cycles, bad patterns, bing college. And we wouldn't love some guidance and help that I think would really equipped her to have the kind of love that they have in their marit for parents. And I remember the day that I he finally got on a phone call with her. And she she was like, I have no idea what this is. And I was like, I know stepping into something uncomfortable or something new is never easy, but I promise you, we are working for your heart with your best interests, and it'll be an experience that ye never had for. And we're not leaving you until you are madly in love. So left it comfortable knowing each other so that we can truly find a repair on spot in the law. And when we were starting to interview for her, um, these guys were also, you know, new in the world because they're around the same age of dating, and everybody really pull, like in that age demographic that you're searching for, all they knew was really online dating and all had their stories of, you know, college dating. And so with her husband today, I will never forget at the wedding, and there was like probably spread 500. It was a huge wedding of people uh guests. And um I will never forget the sweetest testimony that they had me just go up on stage and share with all of them their journey that led them to this day, where now they have uh three children, are just like happier than ever. They are now seizing in their relationship, but to give them the tools they still call you on every once in a while, it is such a blessing to turn to, to equip them to be ready. It was something that it's a story I'll never forget because it is my first youngest client that I ever worked with and realized how much my own self didn't have knowledge that I wish I had, but I now do that it's so beneficial to start learning how to date, to be married well or single, to team you up for success, then you do meet that want. And God

Questions To Prepare For Healthy Love

Renee Richel 22:00

only knows in what's for this date. So, my question out of all of this, because I can't just close without some type of, you know, questions for you to ask yourself as you walk away into your new year and start a fresh week, is what are you doing today if you are single or even if you're married or in a relationship? What are you doing today to set yourself um for healthy love to come in, for helpful love to be deceived, for helpful love to be loved by, not only for you, by you, and then somebody that God has my for you. And I think through all of these stories, and this is just a few. So I'd love to share more, or if you are curious about what we do, please contact us. We would love to be here and find out is God is aligning ye and us together, finding the true love. Or is they're in a relationship and you're navigating a dating phase. We would love to give you 122 is a gift questionnaire to help navigate is guess the one for you, or the three differences let is put myself out there, come to us. We'd love to find you that person um for that hoa ball bis bikini query on. So again, am I truly doing what God wants me to be in a marriage mandate relationship? Kepping, preparing, we're also living out. So, in closing, if you're listening today and you feel disparaged or you feel tired or like it's not happening for you, I want you to hold on to this. Your story is not behind. It's being written and it might not look how you expected, but that doesn't mean it won't be beautiful. God is always working all things behind the scene for the good and have a plan for you. I would be love to hear from you. I cannot wait for our next chat. And if there's anything when it comes to relationships, please contact us forward or pass along this uh podcast in the week is topic for the inspiring testimonials of true love that we wittness every single day for not easy to orchestrate, but always work great. I hope you have a fabulous week and God bless. It's been another great talk on this episode of 1 True Talks by Renee Richel. I look forward to our next chat. Please write in your questions and comments so I can be sure to talk about whatever it is you want to discuss in our next upcoming episode. Lots of love. God bless, XOXO.