Confidence in God and One Another: A 3-Day Marriage PlanSample

The Marriage Triangle

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:7

God promises to bless those who trust in Him. The Psalms state that joy, deliverance, triumph, mercy, provision, blessedness, safety, and usefulness will come to those who put their confidence in the Lord. We need to rely on those blessings in our marriages-otherwise the stresses of life will pull us apart. And those stresses will come! When the house burns down . . . when a child becomes ill . . . when a job and steady paycheck are lost, it's all too easy to let fear and frustration drive a wedge between partners. Even minor problems, such as a nagging cold or a sleepless night, can disrupt the quality of our marriage.

The good news is that we weren't meant to succeed by depending only on each other. Marriage is a triangle-with husband and wife at the bottom corners and the Lord at the top. The book of Ecclesiastes conveys a similar truth when Solomon talks about the strength of a three-stranded cord (4:12). If we invite the Lord into our marriage and trust in His strength, we can experience strength and peace in our marriage regardless of the circumstances.

Just between us . . .

·When, before our marriage, did God prove strong for you in a time of crisis? What specific blessing did He provide?

·How has He blessed us during hard times in our marriage?

·What are some of the little stresses that tend to drive us apart?

·In light of what we've read this week, how can we encourage each other to trust God more?

Dear Lord, we praise You that You-the God of love, power, and goodness- want to be a powerful presence in our relationship. When tests come, bind us together with love. When we are weak, be strong for us. Amen.

Excerpted from Night Light for Couples, used with permission.

Blessed is the man [whose] . . . delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Ps. 1:1-2, ESV)

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Eccl. 4:12, ESV)

“Trusting One Another Begins with God” (article by Dr. Dobson)