Are You Growing Weary in Your Marital Journey?

We sat across the table at the coffee shop and I sat there intently listening to her story…

She was a broken and hurting wife.
She felt betrayed and abandoned by her husband.
He emotionally checked out on life, his marriage, and the raising of his daughters. The trials of his life became too hard for him to bear.
Horrific things happened to him when he was a kid. Things that no one should ever have to endure, let alone a child.
He struggled as a husband as he didn’t have any godly role models to emulate.
He was truly a broken man on so many levels.

The couple’s marital dreams were now shattered as they faced one trial after another. As the Refiner’s fire became too great for him to endure, he slowed walked away from the faith.

She was now left to do everything all on her own.
I could see she was weary of living this way for the past year.
She was clenching tight to her relationship with Jesus Christ.
Unsure of what to do with her situation, life just remained the same.

Cynicism was welling up in her soul.
Her heart was growing bitter.

What choice do you have left when the heartache and despair enter your thoughts and soul?

She was at a crossroads in her marriage.
Wanting to remain faithful to her marriage vows yet growing weaker by the day.

I sat and listened some more.

What I heard was two broken souls longing to be loved and accepted, but neither of them willing to take a step forward to make a change.

Was it because of pride? After all, he was the one at fault.
Fear?
Uncertain of where to go from here?
The loss of hope? Doubtful thoughts causing one to think that things will never change?
Apathy? Why bother working so hard to fight for their marriage?

In the spiritual realm, I see a battle taking place.

Satan, the enemy of marriage and our souls, is on one side seeking to destroy this marriage. And the Lord, the creator of marriage and the lover of our souls, is on the other seeking to redeem the marriage.

But our God is a gentleman….
He won’t make you do anything.
He gave every human being free will.
This wife had a choice, (as do you and I.)

Would she choose to humble herself and let go of her pride? Would she choose to love and forgive the sinner, the man who had disappointed her?

It’s so easy to lose hope, but there is no marital problem so great that Jesus Christ can’t redeem.

But no matter the situation, whether it’s yours or mine, we’ve got to be willing to surrender our ways for the Lord’s ways.

But, it takes a brave soul to do this…

• One who is willing to risk a raw and exposed heart.
• One who is willing to risk losing control over the situation.
• One who is loving and respecting toward someone when they’re not very lovable and respectable.
• One who desires to trust God, the Bible, and His plan for marriage, instead of defaulting to trusting in their own ways and emotions.

Being a brave soul is not for the weak, but sometimes we need some encouragement to press on when life is hard. Other times we need someone to give us the tools and show us the way in order to equip us in our marital journey.

Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.  Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.  Titus 2:3-5

Do you desire encouragement for your marital journey?  Perhaps you need some tools to equip you along the way?  Would you like to learn from other Titus 2 Wives?  Then join me for the Wisdom for Wives On-line Conference!  You can learn more about it here.

Live a poured out life for Christ,