Committed to Marriage ~ For Better or Worse

 

This weekend, Bill and I celebrated our 27th marriage anniversary.  On September 5th, 27 years ago, two young adults (kids really ) committed to live our lives together in marriage “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day until death do us part.” 

We experienced the “sicker” immediately, as I was diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes the first week of our married life.  We have also experienced the “poorer” and the “worse” as we have journeyed down many roads of financial failures.  As Bill and I discussed our life together this weekend, we concluded that it really has been really difficult since that first week – there has been one struggle after another – and this past year has been no different.  Yet, here we were 27 years later thankful for God’s faithfulness to us to still be together.

Each of our daughters gave us an anniversary card thanking us for being committed to our marriage vows ~ they have seen the struggles and yet they rejoice that we haven’t given up and are still together.  How humbling to have your daughters thank you for your commitment ~ because they know us very well and have seen both of us at our worst.  Yet, they are thankful that our marriage has made it 27 years, no matter what.  We know that it has only been with the Lord’s help that we have stayed together – God has been faithful as we remain faithful.

Years ago, the Lord gave me this passage to remind me that I needed to take the pressure off of Bill to be my everything, to solve all of my needs and to instead put all of my needs on the Lord..

“For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. 

 ”For a brief moment I abandoned you,  but with deep compassion I will bring you back.  In a surge of anger
       I hid my face from you for a moment,  but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,”
       says the LORD your Redeemer.” Isaiah 54:5-8

 

  In the past weeks, I have reminded myself of this passage once again as I find myself looking to Bill to be more than just the good husband and man that he is.  Also, in the past weeks, I have found myself in numerous positions to encourage married women with these verses.  So many marriages are under attack from our enemy who wants us to believe that nothing will ever change and/or that our husbands will never be all we long for.  God has actually show me to put my trust in Him (God) and not to expect Bill to be my Savior.  Bill is my human husband, but Bill is just a man; my God is all powerful, all knowing and everywhere – totally in control of everything.  He is more than capable to meet my needs as a woman and a wife, which then allows me to take the pressure off of Bill.  That is why Isaiah 54 is so important to me – when I place my needs for a Godly husband on God – then that frees Bill to just who he is — a human man who works hard to care for me and his family.

Bill and I enjoyed a restful, quiet weekend visiting the Chautauqua, NY area.  It was not the most exciting place to visit – but we enjoyed visiting the Chautauqua Institue (very interesting place), eating out, resting, visiting the Lucy- Desi Museum  and lots of conversations.  There was an interesting turn of events that happened on our way up.  We were orginially heading to Niagara on the Lake in Canada – but as we were driving up, we realized that we forgot our passports (and of course, we did not have our original birth certificates) and would not be able to cross the boarder.  At first, I could feel discouragement come over me and I was frustrated.  But as we stopped to make phone calls and decisions, I prayed that God would help me deal with the change of plans.  Most of all, I asked God to protect our time together by helping my attitude not become angry.  God did just that, Chautauqua was just the quiet place needed to spend time together ( we had a lovely place to stay, Chautauqua Hotel & Suites).  Once again, God is faithful when we allow Him to change our plans.

Please note – I know that many of you are going through difficult marriage problems – problems you would have never imagined when you got married.  Please allow me to encourage you to not give up, hold true to your promises and stay committed.  God can meet your needs and be your husband – He promises to do so.  He is also amazing to restore and redeem relationships.  The enemy will tell you it is hopeless – but God’s promises always stand true.  Our marriage is proof of what God can do with brokeness and how it can bring glory to our amazing God.