3 Things Wives Need in MarriageSample

Be Present

One thing that made Jesus’s ministry so powerful was the fact that He was present in the lives of His people, just as He is now. Jesus walked with the disciples, ate with sinners, and in today’s passage from John 8, he knelt down beside the woman preparing to be stoned. He took on flesh so that he could bear with us in our flesh. While you can’t be your wife’s savior, you can certainly do life alongside her; being present for the grind and investing in the relationship.

I can attest to how difficult it is to find time for one another in marriage. This isn’t about an amount of time. This is about giving your attention and being intentional with the time that you do get. Are you engaged in conversation or haphazardly nodding as she talks about her day? Are you leaving the family agenda in her hands or are you looking for pieces of time to enjoy one another? Are you on your phone or tablet throughout dinner or are you delighting in conversation? She doesn’t need your presence for a set amount of time as much as she needs you to be present in your time together.

Jesus was walking in a crowd of people. Jairus, a synagogue leader, had asked Jesus to help his daughter, who was sick and nearing death, and Jesus was on the way to see her. In the midst of all of this, as the dense crowd nearly crushed him, a woman reached out to touch His cloak. He noticed her and immediately began to ask who it was that touched Him. We can take a lesson from His example to stop and meet a need even in the middle of His busy schedule. Disciples were trying to dismiss the event, but He was present for this woman in her time of need. Likewise, we are all called in Philippians 2 to consider others as more important than ourselves; to look out for the interests of others. Nowhere is this more important than in our marriage.

Husbands, your wife needs you. Sometimes more than others. Be present! Look for ways to engage with her, and follow through.

Wives, if you feel your husband is disconnected, it’s not the time to keep pushing through- managing it all on your own with your fingers crossed- it will get better.

It’s time to tell your husband how much you value his presence in your home and in your schedule. It’s time to pray for his heart to be softened and his priorities to be in line. Keep extending the opportunities for your husband to come alongside you, and don’t dismiss his attempts even if they aren’t quite what you had in mind.

Prayer:

Lord, it can be so hard, in the busyness of life, to connect. May we take your example and be present for our spouse. Help us to align our priorities with our hearts and may they both be in line with your will and your order. Help us to see how you loved and extend that same love to our spouse.