Marriage is very serious, and I agree with your parents: You shouldn’t go into it with so many doubts and uncertainties. It’s far better to be cautious now than to end up with years of unhappiness and broken promises later on.

But the most important thing I can tell you is this: God loves you, and He knows what’s best for you—including your marriage. Don’t drift into marriage, and don’t try to make decisions about marriage on your own. Instead, seek God’s will for your life, and ask Him to lead you to the person He has chosen for your lifelong mate. His way is always best, and if it is His will for you to be married, you can trust Him to guide you to the right person—someone who loves Him and will love you also.

This is why I urge you to commit your life to Jesus Christ. Yes, you believe in God (as you make clear elsewhere in your letter). But have you ever invited Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and decisively turned your life over to Him? By a simple prayer of faith, commit your life to Him today.

Then ask Him to guide you and give you wisdom about your future. Pray also for your boyfriend, that he will yield his life to Christ—whether or not you eventually marry him. As God did for others centuries ago, He will “show you the way you should go” (Deuteronomy 1:33).