Celebrating Differences in Marriage Намуна

The longer I am married to my husband, the more I can identify the many major and minor differences there are in our personalities. The perspectives we bring to the table about finances, raising children, and managing a home are vastly different and could potentially be a source of great frustration for our marriage.

In marriage, differing opinions and approaches can be magnified. They can end up causing some unwanted tension if not viewed through the lens of Christ.

Let’s look at the way God has gifted you and your spouse. If I were to describe my husband’s giftings I would tell you that he has the gift of leadership and administration. The more people are around him, the more they want to be around him. He influences people in big and small ways, usually unbeknownst to him. He is math-minded and financially savvy, and the man can create a spreadsheet in a matter of seconds.

If he were to describe me, I believe he would tell you God has gifted me with the words of encouragement, prayer and giving. I thrive when I can help someone see how special God made them to be, push them past their insecurities, and don’t let me see something that someone once mentioned they want, because it’ll be my life mission to get it and bring it to them!

We are different. He is not going to pat you on the back after a job well done, and there is no way I can come up with a plan for our future investments. Our gifts are different, and praise God that they are. Our different skills not only complement one another but allow each of us to lead in our own lane.

The Bible speaks about the Church, and how each of us are gifted with different callings and talents, as today’s verses from Romans and 1 Corinthians explain. If we all got to be the hands, then we wouldn’t have a shoulder to raise, lower and extend that hand. God also designed men and women differently. This is huge because it means that our God intentionally created each of us differently and he specifically gifted you and your spouse in a way that would point people to Him and grow the Kingdom.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, today I pause to recognize and celebrate how differently you created me and my spouse, and how you did so with purpose and intent. Thank you for this marriage you have blessed us with. I ask today that you help us to be good stewards of our gifts, and use them in a way that glorifies you.