Marriage

It seems like the more I fall in love the easier fear creeps in and says hold on tighter 'what if?'  And then the 'what ifs' begin to linger longer and become more clear.  Do you ever find yourself on these destructive mental paths of fear?  The uncontrollable moments of life that are pressed against every minute yet seem like invisible walls around us until the fear creeps in.  And then in the midst of meandering fears and rationality I remember my God who is in control.  Who knows my waking and lying down.  Who knows the number of hairs on my head.  Who knows my deepest heart cries.  And then I get to cling to Him and not the fear.  Oh what it would have been like for Abraham offering his only son Issac on the alter of sacrifice.  Fear, yes.  Sorrow and pain, yes.  But he was obedient and God honors obedience.  Now that I am one with Michael  we get to walk hand in hand on this journey of obedience towards His heavenly calling  of dying to ourself, bearing our cross, and worshiping our Creator however that may look and wherever that may be.  

As we were driving back from a wedding Saturday night we began talking about comparing.  Comparing is truly one of the most destructive devices the enemy uses to break us down with lies.  As we talked about our own individual battles of comparing I began to think about the comparisons that can easily slip into a marriage.  I came across this excerpt from John Piper the other day it spoke to my heart. Enjoy.

Marriage is not mainly about prospering economically; it is mainly about displaying the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his church. Knowing Christ is more important than making a living. Treasuring Christ is more important than bearing children. Being united to Christ by faith is a greater source of material success than perfect sex and double-income prosperity.

So it is with marriage. It is a momentary gift. It may last a lifetime, or it may be snatched away on the honeymoon. Either way, it is short. It may have many bright days, or it may be covered with clouds. If we make secondary things primary, we will be embittered at the sorrows we must face. But if we set our face to make of marriage mainly what God designed it to be, no sorrows and no calamities can stand in our way. Every one of them will be, not an obstacle to success, but a way to succeed. The beauty of the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his church shines brightest when nothing but Christ can sustain it.