The second comes from Proverbs 3 verses 5-6 which are pertinent at this time in my life: "5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
The basis of why these verses are so meaningful to me is that in a few days I will be married, when less than two years ago I wasn't sure if I ever would be.
In my youth the thought of not being married sometimes caused me great distress, but as I take this big step in my life, I have had a chance to reflect on the strange and mysterious ways we lead our lives, and how God guides them.
What I have learned is that you can't always tell what God is doing in your life, but he is always doing something.
Often in retrospect
It is often only in retrospect that we can appreciate Gods hand, such as me being single until I met my fiancé.
I have realised that what trust in God has taught me is that all good things are from God.
And I just don't mean things like getting married to the wonderful woman he has blessed me with.
Lamenting, pain and suffering
But also he has blessed my life with lamenting, pain and suffering.
This is because sometimes what God uses to help us, and God uses for our good, can often still feel very bad.
The sacrifice of Jesus is one potent example, his death appeared as a tragedy but became the greatest gift to humanity.
We trust God
Having faith means that even if we feel that what we have now is good, we trust that God will make it good.
This is an attitude that I share with my doting soon-to-be wife, and hope to impart upon my children and other people around me.
God blesses us in both our joys and sorrows.
Nathanael Yates from Perth, Western Australia, is an award winning young scientist completing a PhD in the neurobiology of schizophrenia
Nathanael Yates' previous articles may be viewed at
www.pressserviceinternational.org/nathanael-yates.html