Our marriage is a lot like our relationship with Christ
“No enthusiasm will ever stand the strain that Jesus Christ will put upon His worker, only one thing will, and that is a personal relationship to Himself which has gone through the mill of His spring cleaning until there is only on purpose left – I am here for God to send me where he will.” ~Oswald Chambers
Getting married is an event, staying married is a process. My husband and I just celebrated 14 years of marriage last week. The development and growth in our marriage is a process of two imperfect people learning that “it is not all about you.” As newlyweds life is your oyster, you have dreams of never fighting, and the other person lives to make you happy. Then one morning you wake up realizing that your prince charming left the toilet seat up and you fell in, or after a long day of taking care of toddlers the first thing he asks when he walks in the door is “what’s for dinner?” Suddenly the honeymoon is over, and your expectations of living happily ever-after in wedded bliss just vanished. The good news is, you will find a thousand ways to love your husband more and in deeper, different ways than you could image. How do you explain to a bride that one day she will see her husband changing a poopy diaper and that will be the most romantic thing she has seen all week? Or when he took the trash out, without being asked, will make you want to make him a Thanksgiving feast because you are so giddy with excitement. The commitment and love change and develop into a deeper, stronger unity.
The same is true with our relationship with Christ. As a new Christian we have so many dreams and visions of how we are going to change the world for Christ. Then life hits, the first rejection comes, you are put down for your faith. The honeymoon and gushy feelings of following Christ have vanished. This is where the rubber mets the road, or where the commitment to your decision is developed or weakened. Like Oswald Chambers says in the quote above, “No enthusiasm will ever stand the strain that Jesus Christ will put upon His worker…” Feelings are fleeting, but going through difficult times cements the beliefs,values, and commitment.
In marriage and with our relationship with Christ it is the “going through the mill” that refines our purpose and commitment. Through the difficult times our love for Christ grows deeper and we see him in ways we never could imagine. It is after the break down of preconceived ideas and the elimination of expectations, where we find the sweetness of Christ.
Doug Larson once said, “More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse.” I find this true in my walk with Christ also, I remember feeling broken and shattered but it was then that Christ said, “Now watch what I can do with your brokenness….” Beauty among ashes; Glory revealed in the midst of pain. The stone become the diamond.
Heavenly Father, thank you for always developing me, refining me, and using everything in my life to give you glory. When I am weak you are strong; when I don’t know what way is up, you are in control. Father through it all, may you find only one purpose in my life and that is to serve you. May your will be done. Amen.
Laurel–it is so true. We are all ‘blue-eyes’ and giddy when we get married and than the everyday thing happens. We are sad that the honeymoon has ended…I LOVE how you have connected the two topics–just beautiful.
Heavenly Father, may you find only one purpose in my life — to serve you.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us this morning.
So beautifully said my friend.
Laurel,
A beautiful post about marriage and our walk with Christ. I see it just as you do. Our marriage on earth is teaching us so much about our walk now and our eternal relationship.
Wonderful insight. Thank you.