Celebrating Differences in Marriage Намуна

God didn’t just create the differences between you and your spouse, he orchestrated them in a way that allows them to work directly together. If the two of you were exactly the same, then you would be limited to just the gifts you have. Being different in some areas gives your marriage more tools to work with. Those differences can not only complement one another, but they can serve to protect one another as well. They can challenge you to grow.

If you are viewing all the ways your husband or wife is different from what you imagined, or different from your best friend’s spouse, then you will be robbing your marriage of growth and intimacy. Instead, cultivate “a tender heart and a humble mind,” as 1 Peter says, to grow toward unity, as you grow in loving your spouse as they are.

Today think of how God’s pairing you two together provides strength where on your own, you would be weak. What strengths does your spouse have that you lack? And what strengths do you have that they do not? Consider how you can work together to maximize these gifts and strengths, and how you can bless and encourage others by doing so.

Prayer:

God, I am so thankful that you gave me marriage with my spouse. I know you have a great plan for the ministry of my marriage, and that you have put us together on purpose for a purpose. I pray you will protect us from comparison or wishful thinking and help us to love one other as you made each of us. I pray you will make our marriage fruitful in showing your love and light to the world around us.

Resource:

Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet: 25 Tips To Resolve Conflict the Healthy Way

This plan was written by Tiffany Miller and brought to you by Awesome Marriage. Use our 25 Tips To Resolve Conflict the Healthy Way to help you resolve conflict more effectively. Awesome Marriage founder and president Dr. Kim Kimberling has been married for 54 years and a professional counselor for over 40 years. This Cheat Sheet brings you the tips he has gleaned from both personal and professional experience. Grab the cheat sheet here!