In
marriage, growing old together can be a powerful witness to the goodness of God.
“Till death do we part” is a wonderful
blessing. In Christian marriage, it is
the promise that someone who loves God and loves you will be by your side. It is embracing the idea of “one flesh” and
‘helpmate” in all their fullness. When
you can watch your mate pass from this life and truly say, “Part of me has just
died,” only then will you fully understand why God chose marriage as an analogy
for his love for us.
As
you age with your mate, you cannot be certain about anything except this: THINGS
WILL CHANGE. Everything—physical
health, communication, intimacy, family relationships, (possibly) mental
health, social relationships, spirituality—will change. Sometimes change comes slowly and sometimes
change comes quickly. However it
happens, you have to expect change.
The
key question is how will you respond when change happens? Remember, no matter what stage you are at in
your marriage, Satan will always be working to destroy your covenant
relationship, either through neglect or through more aggressive means. When your spouse doesn’t look like she used
to, do you begin comparing her unfavorably to others? When your sex life changes, do you seek
intimate connections elsewhere? When
your mate’s spiritual beliefs change, do you condemn him or recognize that you
are both on a spiritual journey and he may be at a different place? When age or illness causes physical
disabilities, do you see helping her as a burden or as a blessing? When he has a hard time relating to your
adult children, do you talk negatively about him in front of the kids, or help
him through that difficult transition?
Remember, Satan is always looking for changes in your marriage
relationship that can be exploited to drive a wedge between you and your
spouse.
Obviously,
every couple is different and is living out their own unique story. However, here are some general thoughts to
keep in mind as you move from wherever you are now toward “till death do we
part.”
- Keep your relationship anchored in Christ. It is always easy to let your marriage become directed by the world, but your love for God is always evidenced by how you love your spouse. Pray with each other always.
- Remind yourself of your marriage covenant on a regular basis. Whether it’s re-watching your marriage video, renewing your vows, or just reflecting daily on the blessings your spouse brings to your life, continually reinforce a positive perspective of your marriage relationship.
- Express your love both in word and in deed often. Your mate needs to hear and see your love on a regular basis so that there is never any doubt in his/her mind.
- How you communicate might change, but don’t let communication die or the relationship will die with it. Without communication spouses become isolated and lose connection with each other. Healthy, regular communication is necessary for any relationship to work.
- Handle conflict in a timely manner. If conflict is not addressed, walls will build up between you and your spouse.
- Practice forgiveness on an ongoing basis. Forgive your mate and forgive yourself. Don’t let the poisonous root of anger, resentment, and guilt kill your marriage.
- Continually guard each other’s hearts and minds. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us that it is the well-spring of life; your own personal spiritual life and the life of your marriage.
- How you express intimacy may have to change, but don’t let intimacy slip away. Showing intimacy—physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and spiritually—is always necessary for a healthy connection.
- Recognize the power and necessity of acceptance. Your spouse won’t always look the same. Your spouse may not always think about things exactly the same. You may face changes in your family structure. When changes occur, it is critical to let your spouse know that you accept him/her for who he/she is. To bemoan what you cannot change is hurtful to your spouse and negatively impacts your marriage.
- Constantly check where you are spending your time and your resources because that is what you value. Your resources always flow to your priorities, so at every stage, with every significant change, verify what is really important to you.
- Don’t wait until the elusive “later” to enjoy your time and do things with your mate. It is always easy to wait for “a more convenient time,” but tomorrow doesn’t always come. Live within your means, but don’t live with regrets over the simple pleasures in life that you were too busy to enjoy.
- Play together and laugh together often. Few things can connect you to your mate as intimately and powerfully as playing together. And, when the uncertainty of change looms darkly on the horizon, shared play and laughter can alleviate anxiety and worry better than anything else.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. There is no shame in needing help. When different stages of life present problems you’ve never encountered before, seek the counsel of other godly couples who have walked that road ahead of you.
- And most importantly, use your marriage in God’s kingdom at every step. The list of ways you can use your marriage to serve God’s Kingdom is endless. And what you are able to do at one stage of life might be different from what you are able to do at another. Just be intentional to do something together to serve God’s Kingdom at every step of the way.
Change
is often confusing and trying. We are
resistant to change because it is frequently accompanied by the unknown, and
that can be scary. The blessed promise
of a Christ-centered marriage is that God has given us someone with whom we can
face the challenges of life. Whether we
are singing praises to God on a mountain top or walking through the valley of
the shadow of death, we know God is with us because our spouse is with us.
Together, embrace the joys and
blessings that come with each stage of life.
Together, love each other through the hardships and pain. Together, use your marriage powerfully in God’s
Kingdom. Be the very presence of Christ
for your mate in every way possible—in love, in forgiveness, in grace, in
mercy, in selflessness, and in goodness.
When you do that, in the end your marriage will be a blessed promise.
______________________
What does God want from my
marriage?
A Weekend
Marriage Enrichment Retreat
Friday-Sunday, March 7-9, 2014
Edgewater at the Aquarium Hotel and Conference Center
Gatlinburg, TN
Gatlinburg, TN
Limited to 30 couples
Email
dfcamp@gmail.com for more info
__________________________________
Looking for a great Christmas gift for someone interested in creating or working on a powerful marriage ministry? The Marriage-Friendly Church is available now and gives you the questions every church needs to be asking. Available at 21st Century Christian or on Amazon.com
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