7 Truths of Marriage: How Two Become OneSample

Becoming Private

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NASB)

Leah and I spoke at a marriage conference, and I said, “Don’t give out tickets to the freak show.” Honestly, it seemed like a great piece of advice, and although we weren’t invited back the following year, it’s still sound wisdom. You and your spouse are going to disagree. Those disagreements may turn into arguments. Too often, spouses turn to friends and family for an agreeable ear instead of turning to God.

The problem with giving everyone access to your dirty laundry is while you will forgive your loved one for whatever caused the disruption, other people will not forget. That’s when the circle of support begins to decay into a choir of, “I told you so.” Be cautious and discerning with whom you surrender your privacy.

Opening windows of intrusion also comes from external forces having an audience with one or both of you. Things like television, text messaging, and social media are serious threats to the privacy required by couples to ensure their home is a sanctuary where a relationship can grow. Your privacy is like a marital incubator, and it’s your job to keep the weeds away from smothering what’s promised to bloom beautifully – your marriage.

Truth Talk:

Communications technology is here to stay and usually a necessity for work and play, but if you don’t control technology, it will control you. Talk to your spouse and make sure they don’t feel second place to your cell phone. Also, please make sure you both have access to each other’s accounts. Passwords protect against spies, not spouses.