Marital Encouragement

The audio in this post was originally recorded as a voice note to share one-on-one with a woman who’d been encouraged by my marriage testimony, but when I was finished I realized others might be blessed by the words God had given me to share. So here it is – I apologize for sounding like a frog, I’m under the weather today but God is still good! Bless you 🙂

Oh and as a note, I love Disney and all the ooey gooey romantic books and movies. I’m in no way saying people shouldn’t enjoy them. I’m just saying we need to be wise about not letting them manage our expectations or we’ll find ourselves constantly disappointed. So enjoy them for the FICTION they are 😉

I’ve added bullet points as references along with related scriptures. And FYI I originally shared my marriage testimony on my website about 12 years ago. It was written just before our 5 year anniversary and this past fall we celebrated our 16th. He’s a good God! 

  • Encouragement for wives standing in faith for husbands (or vice vera)
  • Danger of the fairytale culture
  • Looking to God to fulfill our needs
  • Understanding the reasons behind the difficult behavior and choosing not to take it personally
  • Are you willing to minister to the one? (Matthew 18:12)
  • Sacrificial love (Genesis 22:2, John 3:16)
  • Being willing to go to extremes if God asks (Hosea 1:2, Hosea 3:1)
  • Emunah (H530) Faith that God is sovereign and believing that we are completely in His hands
  • He works things together for the greater good, which includes us, but doesn’t exclude the possibility He is asking us to “take one for the team” (Matthew 26:39)
  • Marriage is always a work in progress. We must realign our expectations. My mother likes to say “Marriage isn’t to make you happy, it’s to make you holy.” That’s not to say it can’t do both, but if you’re focused on the happy rather than on the growth found there, your misplaced expectations can leave you in a place of hopelessness and frustration.
  • Let the trials of your marriage be the fire that refines you as gold (Romans 5:3-4, James 1:3-4)
  • It’s ok if walking it out isn’t perfect, if it’s messy. You won’t execute it perfectly. That’s ok! Just stay the course.
  • Remember God has prepared you for what He has called you to.

Hopefully you’ve been encouraged and challenged by this. A quick final prayer…

Father God, I just ask that You would bless the hearts of your children who find this word and are in need of it. Bless their relationships and make them align with Your plans for them. I pray for grace in the trials and strength for the journey. Help them to know they are NOT alone, that they are deeply LOVED, and that You are acutely aware of everything they’re going through. May they come to know you more as they love with Your sacrificial love. Be glorified in our lives. Amen!

5 Replies to “Marital Encouragement”

  1. Pingback: Renewed Marriage (Overview) – Meghan Williams

  2. I so appreciate your openness, Meghan! This, once again, was timely for me. We’re back in a huge financial situation and while it’s not gone to our relationship, this kind of pressure often does trigger it. So it really is a great time for a review! Love ya, Meghan!

  3. Pingback: Renewed Marriage – MeghanW

  4. Pingback: Transparency in Marriage (James 5:16) – MeghanW

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