Word of the Week - Marriage
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Ephesians 5:31
I hope you and your family had a blessed Christmas and are enjoying meaningful time together as we close out the year and prepare to step into a new one. The “New Year” is an exciting and amazing opportunity for all of us to make small adjustments to our life rhythms and routines that can have tremendous impact in shaping our life and legacy over the course of time! Compounding and eternal Impact!!!
Today Amy and I are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary. We are away on a short trip at the beach. We have a great day, and evening planned to reflect, dream, and celebrate what God has done! Hallelujah!!!! Yesterday, we spent the morning with our daughter Saige and 4 grandkids at their home in Mobile, AL. We then made the beautiful drive over to Rosemary Beach, FL. We spent a quiet evening reflecting over dinner on our years together and the good work God has done in each of us through our marriage. We are still growing and maturing—both in our walk with the Lord and with one another—but we’ve come a long way, and we find ourselves in a truly good and exciting season.
As I’ve shared before, and Amy would agree, marriage has been the most challenging and the most rewarding relationship of our lives. There have been seasons of deep joy and fulfillment, along with seasons that were incredibly difficult. Looking back, we are most thankful that we stayed committed and persevered. Like most things in life, much of the harvest comes after long seasons of planting and plowing. God’s principle of sowing and reaping applies powerfully to marriage and family.
At this stage of life, we are grateful to be reaping the blessings—three godly daughters, two wonderful sons by marriage, and eight beautiful grandchildren who bring us tremendous joy. Our relationship is stronger than it has ever been, not because it is perfect, but because of the sanctifying grace of Jesus at work in us and our marriage. As we look ahead to year 36, we genuinely believe our best years are still in front of us.
The following are a few things we have gleaned from the past 35 years of marriage:
Marriage is a beautiful sacrament and gift from God, where one man and one woman are united to become “one” in a lifelong covenant before God and man. For followers of Christ, it is the only lifelong covenant relationship we enter on earth. God designed marriage to reflect Christ’s relationship with His bride—the Church. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come…” (Revelation 19:7–8)
Marriage is also our most refining relationship. It has the potential to produce our greatest blessings—family, companionship, unconditional love—but also our deepest pain if it is not submitted to the Lordship of Christ. Two people from different families, backgrounds, and expectations becoming one is no small thing. This process requires dying to self and choosing covenant faithfulness “until death do us part.” If we allow God to work, marriage becomes a refining and sanctifying tool that conforms us more into the image of Christ. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) Wives are called to submit as the Church submits to Christ, and husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her. God’s design is clear—our challenge is whether we are willing to trust Him and live it out.
Marriage also prepares us for our eternal union with Christ. God graciously uses marriage to give us a glimpse of the covenant relationship we will one day experience fully as the bride of Christ. Just as marriage thrives through intentional connection, so does our relationship with God. Our walk with Jesus begins with surrender, but it only grows and bears fruit if we remain connected to Him. “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me I will abide in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:
After 35 years of marriage, I can honestly say there is nothing God has used more to challenge and refine me than my marriage to Amy. God has used it to make me a better man in every area of my life—and for that, I am deeply grateful. As we grow in unity with our spouse, and as we abide in Christ, God uses both relationships together to shape us into who He has called us to be. What an amazing God we serve! “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
Challenge Question: In what ways am I intentionally sowing into my marriage today, and what might God be inviting me to plant, repair, or realign so that our covenant continues to grow stronger and bear lasting fruit?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the gift of marriage and the refining work You do through it. Help us love selflessly, remain committed in every season, and stay connected to You and to one another. Where there is strain, bring healing; where there is distance, restore closeness; and in all things, shape us into the image of Christ as we honor the covenant You have entrusted to us. Amen.
As we close out the year, I pray God’s blessing over your marriage and your family in Christ Jesus!