How to Deal When Your Spouse Doesn’t Understand YouНамуна

We know our emotions can be hard to keep in their proper place, so how exactly can we do that? Apply what we know for certain to be true: God’s Living Word!

First things first - Christ should be the center! Simply having this out of order is a detriment to your marriage. The man should serve as the leader of the home. As we saw in yesterday’s scripture, his role is to protect and love his wife as Christ loves the Church. His love is pure, enduring and sacrificial. Wives are to submit to their husbands, offer encouragement, and respect their husband’s leadership.

God’s word is clear in Matthew 19 that no one should tear apart what God has brought together. The two of you have become one flesh. Don’t become the one tearing your own marriage apart.

In our own individual relationship with Christ we can prioritize our own will and desires and refuse to submit ourselves fully to Christ. When this happens, we start to believe what we feel more than we meditate on what is true. When we do, our marriages begin to suffer.

If we are looking to marriage to fulfill what only Christ can, then our marriage will always be lacking. Marriage isn’t capable of making us feel complete or of being our source of joy. God alone is our rock and our sustainer. He is sufficient. He is enough. Our marriage may be a gift, a blessing, a joy; a picture of Christ’s love for the world to see, but it is not our source of joy. It is God who fills us with “all joy,” as we see in Romans 15:13.

We can’t live selfishly in our marriages and then believe the lie that our marriage isn’t good. Marriage is a place for sacrifice and service. We have to look to the good of our marriage and our spouse before that of ourselves. We see Christ’s example as He walked the earth, washing the feet of his disciples and pouring His blood out for us all.

The truth is our God is good, He is for our marriage, and He loves us deeply. What’s also true is that you and your spouse are sinful beings who see the world differently and experience emotions differently. The one certainty: God’s Word remains the same (1 Peter 1:25).

Prayer: Lord, thank you that your Word is, and always will be, true. May it be the foundation on which I build my life and my marriage. Help me and my spouse to prioritize truth over feelings. Help us to create a safe place to feel what we feel and share it with one another. Thank you that you are our source of joy and that we can look to you to meet that need. Thank you that we don’t have to burden our marriage or one another with an expectation that can never be met outside of you. Thank you that you love me and my marriage, would you continue to grow both for your will and your glory!

We have a great resource to help you continue to evaluate your mindset about your marriage: the15 Day Contentment Challenge

Find more peace and joy with my 15-day Contentment Challenge!

In a world that values more, better, newer, and faster, contentment is uncommon. Many marriage difficulties stem from misplaced discontent, which is why my 15-Day Contentment Challenge is a great next step for you as you grow your marriage. Learn more here.