A Beautiful Marriage is Built
A beautiful wedding and a young, beautiful couple may captivate the eyes, but a beautiful marriage captivates the heart.We spend so much time, money and effort on this celebration of new beginning, commitment and covenant — the ultimate “symbol” of love.But it’s not the fullest expression.You see, it will all be over in a flash. Real life will settle in. Unforeseen struggles and unmet expectations will surface. The day-to-day routine, job pressures, responsibility of children, endless activities and unexpected health complications will often drown out and distract the heart from the once unabated romance it produced and experienced.Youthful appearance will fade. Warm fuzzies will fade. The powerful love hormones will fade. Sure, it’s nice while it lasts ... but it doesn’t last.The fullest expression of love is BUILT.It is forged through sacrifice, attentiveness, forgiveness and humility.It’s the pursuit of God by two individuals who love Him more than each other. It’s the willingness to lay down agendas, plans and comforts for the sake of the other.It’s grace in action.It’s a bending of the knee and lifting of the eyes in prayer to surrender your spouse to God when they are distant, disobedient and hardened.It’s lowering pride enough to see your own faults, confessing and repenting — even when they pale in comparison.It’s apologizing first.It’s resting and finding significance in God rather than how your spouse responds, the way they serve you, the gifts they give you or even the faithfulness they have toward you.When God is your everything, you can do anything. You simply have nothing to lose.It’s never too late for a beautiful marriage. I don’t care how old you are, how long you’ve been married or how bad it’s been. God is able.And it starts with you.“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line..." John 15:11-12 (MSG)