Trusting God During Marital HardshipSample

Trusting God's Word through Obedience

James 4:6 says that God opposes the proud. Early in my marriage, I allowed pride to keep me from obeying God’s word. The struggle with being obedient is dying to self. However, I learned that there’s overflow and breakthrough in your obedience. It was a matter of me not just hearing God’s word but being a doer of His word. Trusting God meant it wasn’t about me. It was about what God wanted to do in and through me.

For example, He taught me how to be other-centered. Galatians 5: 22-23 says for the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. I couldn’t just eat one piece of the fruit; I had to consume it all. Learning the character and Spirit of God made it easier to understand how He wanted me to show up in our marriage, even during marital conflict. That’s when Psalm 34:8 became real to me, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who hopes in Him. Giving God your yes doesn’t prevent marital hardship; giving God your yes releases His hands to do the work in your marriage. All you have to do is obey.

Action: Pray this prayer over your marriage.

Father, there’s nothing like a loving Father that cares for His children. Thank you for seeing my husband and me in our marriage. Thank you for being our refuge. And even when the enemy comes in like a flood, we trust you to put him to flight. Today, I give my marriage to you. I remove my will and trust your will for our lives. Bind us together with your peace. Sanctify us by your word. Teach us how to communicate and empower us with humility, gentleness, patience, peace, and unity. Teach us to love better. Teach us to love like you. I pray our marriage will become divorce-proof as we stand on your word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen