The Marriage Devotional: 5 Days to Strengthen the Soul of Your MarriageSample

Right Place, Right Time

Jennie

Levi and I were close to becoming brother-and sister-in-law. I know, it’s shocking, and it was weird to say for a long time, but now it’s just funny. I was dating someone, and he was dating someone, and they happened to be brother and sister. It wasn’t like we were engaged and they were engaged—but it was serious enough that we thought we might get married to these people we were dating. Then . . . plot twist . . . Jennie meets Levi. Levi meets Jennie. The rest is history.

I think of the situation almost like a dollhouse, where a kid puts all the people in different rooms—one in the kitchen, one sitting by the fireplace, one upside down in the bathroom—when God shows up and says, “Oh, what are you doing here, little one? You need to go here. I need to take you over there. And Jennie, I will move you to Albuquerque, New Mexico, etc.” He takes His hand, reaches in, and starts moving things around in the way only He can, in His time and in His plan.

When Levi and I look back, it’s just so funny to us that we were that close to becoming in-laws. Funny like creepy and weird, yes—but also hilarious. Mostly, though, we can see how God is in control and knows exactly what He’s doing. It’s mostly an issue of aligning our hearts with His in the journey He sets out for us.

So often we think we know the plan for how things need to happen and when. We say things like, “This is how my life is going to go. These are my people, this is my purpose, and this is my plan.” But in all honesty, do we really know? How can we know His thoughts or His ways or His timing? God literally said it perfectly in Isaiah 55:8–9:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the LORD.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God knows, and He is in control. If we can just surrender—and keep surrendering—to Him and His thoughts and ways, He will bring the right things and people, to the right place, at the right time. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” And goodness, am I thankful He does. We have a part in planning, but we also have a part in surrendering to God’s greatest plan for us.

No matter what happens, we are meant to lift our eyes to God, depend on Him, and trust in Him. He’s calling us to a life of faith. A life in Christ. We can trust Him on the unknown road before us. We don’t know what our future holds, but we know the One who holds the future (to paraphrase Corrie ten Boom). God sees both our past and our future from His vantage point, and He has a plan: and our marriage is included in this plan.

To bring us back to today’s Bible verse: God “will send his angel with you and make your journey a success.” The 'you' in the text refer to Abraham’s servant, and Abraham was giving him a pep talk. The servant was about to leave on an all-important journey to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac. God’s angel led the servant on a roundabout journey to find the right girl. Rebekah “just happened” to be visiting the well at the same time the servant had asked for a sign, and it turned out she was exactly the one he’d been looking for. The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah was stunning. (You can read about it starting in Genesis 24 if you’re up for a swoon.) God set all this up. He moved them around and brought them together—in His perfect will. And while this story is specific to them, I believe God wants all of us to have a journey of success within our relationships with our spouses.’

How were you and your spouse set up? What’s your relationship story? Do you believe you were brought together by God? There’s no better way to build your faith for the future of your marriage than by looking back and remembering how God has been faithful to you. Even if you didn’t know Him, you can still see His fingerprints.

You can trust Him. He moved the dolls in your house to just the right spot. You two were at the right place at the right time, and now you’re together—and here’s the thing: God has so much more in store for you as you both keep choosing to show up. And one thing is for certain, it is going to be good.

Bring it Home

Trace back through the period of time before you two were brought together. What moves did God make to put you in each other’s path? What people or situations did He rearrange to bring you into a serious relationship?

Which of those moves were happy and fun at the time? Which of them felt terrible but led to good ultimately?

How would you describe your trust level with God right now? Knowing that He has brought you two this far, how does it make you feel to know that He will also be with you on the potentially hazardous and slippery road ahead?

Conversation Starters

“Looking back to our early days, I’m so glad we stuck together when ______, and we could have split. What was God doing in our hearts in those days?”

“In my story with you, I think God’s smallest move to rearrange people in the dollhouse with the biggest impact was _______.”

“Considering things we’d wished we’d known back then, a simple way we can keep looking to God to follow His moves going forward might be _______.”

Prayer

God, we remember right now that You have been faithful to us. Thank You for bringing us together at the right time and the right place, according to Your perfect plan. We celebrate what You have done in our hearts in the past, and now we commit to trust You and look to You as You continue to work in us. In Jesus’ name, amen.