Marriage Sanctified

When we go through hardships in marriage, we may be tempted to give up and quit. The last thing we may want to do is celebrate. Yet, scripture reminds us that we all go through seasons in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there “is a time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”

Reflecting upon our two decades of marriage, we can see this truth weaved throughout our own marital hardships.

Plenty of times we have cried and grieved. And plenty of times we have laughed and danced from the triumph of overcoming those same hardships.

How is it that we can look back and celebrate our hardships? Because we see the goodness of God in each of them. Because through each hardship, we are strengthened, and God is glorified by the power of our testimony.

Through our hardships we have learned the freeing power of confession and forgiveness. We have learned the humbling power of submission to God and obedience. We have been a witness to God’s faithfulness to grow us to be more like Him. We have felt His sovereignty over our temporal circumstances.

If your marriage feels like it is in a pit of sinking sand, take time to reflect upon the goodness of God in your prior marriage struggles. Look for the ways in which the hardships grew you closer to Him and to your spouse. Celebrate them!

Write them in a journal or on post-it notes as a reminder. And encourage, support & celebrate the marriages of others. God’s goodness is also displayed when we celebrate others, despite our own circumstances.

Our marriages are a way we get to share the Gospel with others in the world. Let His glory be on display!