Recently, Jeremiah and I have been going through 1 Peter together before bed. After I turned out the light last night, I asked him in frustration:
“Honey, why does marriage have to be such hard work?”
This question was birthed out of the petty arguments we had that morning on the way to church (an argument I started). He thought about it for a minute.
“Because I’m screwed up. And you’re screwed up.”
I laughed and couldn’t agree more.
“Do you think anyone has a marriage that isn’t hard?” I asked, really really wanting to know.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Dead people.”
Well… next Thursday will be our four year anniversary (we’re so excited) and this is the year I think I’ve figured out why marriage is hard work. More than ever, I’ve realized that I’m broken, sinful, and selfish. I don’t always love God and if you had the supernatural ability to open the blinds to my house from the outside in, you wouldn’t always see a pretty woman.
You wouldn’t always see someone who’s allowing the Spirit to control my life, but it’s what I desire.
The Apostle Paul said that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal. 5:22-23)
God has given me everything I need for life and godliness and his Spirit is in me to empower me to love my husband and to love those closest to me. I am thankful that God is patient with me. He knows I’m in a process of sanctification. He’s come to set me free from my sin and brokenness- to embrace the gift of marriage as part of his will to conform me into his image.
He’s given me my best friend, lover, soul-mate and the only person in this world I want to be with as a gift to steward, love, respect, and serve well.
Marriage is really hard work because of me.
Sinful. Fallen. Human. But through Christ’s strength and empowerment, my marriage can be beautiful. It has been. It is. And it will be.
And I don’t have to wait until I’m dead for it to be that way either. And that is so encouraging.
So what about you… do you think anyone has a marriage that isn’t hard work?
