Finding Contentment as a Military Wifeنموونە

Marriage Sanctifies

Next, marriage is one of the most effective ways to move toward sanctification, a fancy word that means growing in your character to look more like Christ. God wants us to emit so much salt (truth) and light (joy) that others cannot help but see that there is something very different about us, and that difference is the hope we have in Jesus. Therefore, to look like Jesus, God provides lots of opportunities, experiences, and relationships to mold our character.

And what better relationship to shape you into Christlikeness than that of marriage?! The forced closeness of marriage creates the perfect scenario to constantly confront our inherently sinful nature. Every time we experience these negative emotions within ourselves and a spouse, there’s an opportunity to become more like Christ (or less like Him). We get to choose if we will exhibit self-control, forgiveness, and patience or give in to how the enemy wants us to handle things.

The more a person chooses to work through emotions in a way that reflects the Savior’s actions, the more that person spreads the gospel to their spouse and others. And I’m not sure there’s another profession that stretches you more as a spouse than that of a service member. Day in and day out, we receive the opportunity to combat these hard and broken places of our hearts. We must submit our negative thoughts to the Lord and ask for His help to move toward reconciliation.

I’m not saying it’s wrong to feel sad or disappointed by the inevitable challenges. Of course we miss them (and their help!) when our husbands are far from home. Of course we feel a loss when we have to pack our boxes and leave friendships behind as we move to yet another city. Of course we want our children to have both parents at their major life events. And God is with us in our heartache, offering us strong support, compassion, understanding, and help in our times of need. He is a gracious God who draws near to us in our hardest moments, and He’d rather we process our grief or frustration in His presence as opposed to stuffing them down and ignoring them.

However, what I am saying is that though there’s a place to mourn the constant sacrifices required to live this military life, there’s also a place to be thankful for them at the same time. They are the very circumstances by which the Holy Spirit works in us, maturing us and helping us to look more and more like Christ—the One whose most terrible life circumstance (the cross) ended up being used for good.