Advice From One Newly Married Wife to AnotherSample

God’s Strength, Not Ours

One September day a few months after getting married, a hurricane plowed through Orlando, Florida, where we lived at the time. With our dog, Willow, Perry and I squeezed into the small hallway of our house (the only spot without a window) as the wind roared outside, branch after branch hitting our metal roof.

Little did we know, our first year of marriage would be nothing short of unexpected moment after moment.

Maybe your first few months of marriage have been a sweet experience, and with that, you’re looking forward to what the rest of this first year will bring. For others, you may look at your marriage and wonder if something is wrong because it’s just been so hard.

To both, hear me say, it’s normal.

In moments of fear or worry (the metaphorical storm), I would often try to solve arguments relying on my own strength to bring resolution versus looking to the Father. Picture the hurricane I mentioned above: it started out as just a tropical storm, and as time passed, conditions got worse, and it moved into a category 3 hurricane in minutes. In marriage, conflict or storms between you and your spouse can often look like this. What starts out small can keep getting more and more intense. It’s in those moments that we have to make a choice: God’s strength or our own?

Perry and I have learned to pray in the midst of conflict, which usually involves a step back or “timeout” so we have a clearer vision of what the conflict is really about. When we do, the Holy Spirit often points out areas we were both blind to in the middle of the storm.

Psalm 28:7 says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

The Lord is the One who holds you together when facing hardships, the same way He holds your spouse. He gives rest to your soul, peace for your heart, and help for your circumstances.

Today, send an encouraging message to your spouse, reminding them you’re proud of who they are. Remind them that their strength to get through the day comes from the Lord. For your soul, journal a prayer to God, thanking Him that He is your strength and shield.