For Better or For Worse, Are You Kidding Me?

* Author's Note: This blog is submitted late because I wasn't sure I wanted to be vulnerable and lay out a very personal and sensitive topic. After much prayer, I felt this subject needed a voice.

My husband and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this year! "I say celebrate because the Lord blessed me with 30 years of marriage to the same man that I first said 'I do' to." I married a little bit later in life at the age of 30, while my husband was 27. Yes, that's right ladies, I married a younger man! We don't have the perfect marriage, nobody does. At bridal showers the veteran brides are often asked what the secret is to a long and happy marriage. I used to say sarcastically, "Don't get married." I would love to say the first years of our marriage were bliss, but that was simply not true for us. Our first few years consisted of a lot of loud arguing, the silent treatment, and me packing all my things into the car, driving around waiting for Mr. Wonderful to apologize. For many years our marriage was selfish and we were mostly concerned with how the other person could make us happy.

I used to think, "Where was God in all of this? We were Christians but certainly didn't need God to 'fix' our marriage." When our daughters came along our attention was mostly focussed on their needs. We had our family time and it was good, but we were still not putting each other first in our marriage. After awhile we sort of took each other for granted. We coexisted, but lacked joy. We both began giving all of ourselves to God and the Lord helped us shift away from selfishness and toward one another. We began reading scripture together, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (Col. 4:2 NIV) and finally began acting on His word. We started by reading a couples devotional together. Praying together helped us to desire the same things and to become others-centered rather than selfish. We became intentional in our prayer life and now I look forward to the time we spend reading God's word together and sharing our prayers. Have you found yourself in a similar situation; living day to day but not in a relationship the way God intended? Friend I am praying God will deliver you and help build up your marriage.

Thirty years later, my husband and I have found that our joy comes from the Lord. We celebrate our union in marriage with Christ being the center of it all! Sure some days are still better than others but for better or for worse we will still say I do, giving God the glory.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for my husband. Continue to bless our marriage. Help us to remember you are always the center of it all. Father I ask that you strengthen and mend broken relationships. As we live out each day may we be like- minded and serve you together in unity. Amen.

Bible Verse: Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.