Marriage, Even When…(Day 2)

In Day 1 we talked about how God first loved us and gave Himself up for us by coming to Earth and being among us and dying for us. May we be encouraged by that and lay down ourselves for our spouse.

Satan wants to kill, steal, and destroy our lives, us, and our marriages. One of the main ways he looks to destroy is by attacking the family and lying to us. He knows we are defensive and emotional so he preys on our emotions with lies. He tells us things that are not true but might be close to the truth to deceive us and motivate us to do things that are wrong. He does this in marriage by telling you lies like, “You would be better off if you weren’t married.”, “If you had married someone else, you would be happier.”, “You and your spouse aren’t meant to be together.”, “Your children would be better off if you got divorced.”, “You would be able to reach your goals quicker alone.”, “If marriage is supposed to be so good, why is it so bad?”, “If he/she loved me, they would treat me better so this isn’t a healthy relationship.”, “Divorce is the best option.” …and so many other similar lies.

Marriage can be hard but do not let our enemy, God’s enemy, hurt or destroy what God has put together.

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper as his complement.”

Genesis 2:18 HCSB

The truth is that God said it wasn’t good for us to be alone. It’s better for us to have a helper. Alone we are weak but together we are stronger. We see this in many areas of life including business, sports, fitness, school, and church. When we pool our resources, talents, perspectives, abilities, and experiences together, we can do better.

“God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 HCSB

God made us to multiply and pool our resources together to make the Earth fuller and better. The way He created that and the system He put in place for that is marriage and family. From that, we multiply and create more of us to pool other resources together for commerce, business, community, productivity, and progress.

Your life is better because of your spouse. That is true if you are both seeking God and seeking Truth. The Bible tells us this and even speaks to when only one of you is following Christ!

Don’t believe the lies. Believe the Truth!

“And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 HCSB

One person can be more easily overpowered. Two people are stronger in marriage. With God in the marriage, that is hard to break. Keep God in your marriage as much as possible. Pray together! Pray for each other. Pray for your marriage! Resist Satan and his lies together. Seek Truth and talk about Truth together.

“For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?”

Ecclesiastes 4:10-11 HCSB

Keep each other warm.

There are also great truths in the Bible about how marriage can be made difficult.

“Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.”

Proverbs 21:19 HCSB

That’s a true proverb for sure. An impatient and hot-tempered husband is likely worse or at least just as bad. But while that is true, the bigger truth is that God made marriage so we can help one another and be better for it. If your marriage is not fun and making you better, pray about it and seek counsel from a Pastor of a good Bible-teaching church around you or go to a professional Christian counselor who specializes in marriage. There are also many great Biblically based books about marriage that will help you gain understanding, empathy, and progress toward a GREAT marriage.

The truth is that Marriage should be entered with great fear of God and respect for Him and His system.

Jesus Christ says, “But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.”

Mark 10:6-9 HCSB

So that is the main Truth for us to keep at the front of our minds. God put us together with our spouse in marriage. Let’s not allow that to be separated because of our selfishness.

There is a point where it’s healthy and productive to consider divorce because of infidelity, physical abuse, or other EXTREME scenarios. But don’t get a divorce or even consider divorce because of the lies about your being unhappy, less successful, or LESS SATISFIED, because of your marriage. In your marriage God wants you to be and you can be most satisfied, joyful, and productive!

Marriage is of God and from God! It is great and it makes you better.

Cherish and cultivate your spouse and your marriage,

Intend to Live

Prayer:

God, please help me see the Truth. Please protect me from lies and reveal more and more of You and Your Truth to me. Help me to be my spouse's greatest helper! Help me to give them strength, encouragement, and pray for them more than anyone else does. Help me to keep them warm, comfort them, and bring them peace and joy. Help me to satisfy their needs, wants, and desires. Ultimately, all that comes from You but please help me do my part and fulfill the role you have given me in this marriage. Please bless our marriage, our friendship, give us unity that only comes from You. In Jesus Christ's name and all for Your Kingdom and Your Glory, Amen!