What if one of the things we need is something we don’t want?
One of the things I love about marriage is that it can lead us to places where we will be all but forced to rely on God like we never have before.
My friend Rett gulped deeply when the doctor told him that his wife Kristy had to have a particular operation that could keep her in bed for several days and require special care for a few weeks after that.
Rett is a cognitive man, a brilliant lawyer, but he tends to live in his head with concepts and arguments and a quick wit. He makes a good living and can hire people to do what he doesn’t want to do. He’s not used to playing the role of a nurse, which is what he knew he would have to be doing for his wife.
On the way home from the doctor’s office, Rett blurted out, “I don’t know if I can do this!”
“What do you mean?” Kristy asked. “I’m the one getting the operation!”
“I mean, I don’t know if I can be that low maintenance. I’m high maintenance. Tank (their dog) is high maintenance. The only reason our marriage works is because you’re low maintenance and you hold everything together.”
Marriage is a long journey—long enough so that eventually even the lower maintenance spouse is going to be at least temporarily high maintenance. While many might see this as a curse to bear, this actually can be seen as a gift if the normally higher maintenance spouse views such seasons as opportunities to step up and switch seats, becoming the primary caregiver, perhaps even becoming a different kind of person.
Ruts are comfortable, but limiting. They stifle personal and spiritual growth. Marriage sometimes forces us out of those ruts so that we are invited to grow in areas in which we may not want to grow, but in which God is eager for us to grow.
In case you’re wondering, Kristy gave Rett a glowing report about stepping up, though she admitted he was rather relieved when one of her relatives finally flew into town and took over.
Here’s the key: marriage presented Rett with a situation he would never have chosen on his own. Rett didn’t choose marriage to learn how to become a nurse—part of his attraction to Kristy was the fact that she was so low maintenance—but that’s what he had to do now that he was a husband. Marriage called him to step up outside of himself, depend on Christ, and in the process become more like Christ.
Rett followed and appreciated Christ the teacher, but Jesus wasn’t just a teacher. Christ touched the lepers, healed a woman who had been bleeding for years, and regularly made time out of His schedule to attend to the physical needs of those He loved. To put it in language Rett can now understand: Christ on earth wasn’t just cognitive; He was also caring. For Rett to become more like Christ, he had to grow in the same area. He’s got the cognitive down—you’re not going to trick him with false doctrine—but can he learn to care?
Ask yourself, what if marriage is supposed to be difficult on occasion so that we are forced to learn to rely on God’s Holy Spirit and become a different kind of person?
What if God is more concerned about our “practical atheism”—saying we believe in Him but rarely relying on Him—than He is about how easy our marriage might be at any given moment?
What if half of our frustration in marriage results from the fact that we want it to be easier but God wants us to become more mature?
Consider what your marriage may be calling you to today that you don’t feel capable of doing on your own. Instead of saying, “This is just too hard,” or “This just isn’t my gifting or calling,” or “That’s not why I got married,” invite God to transform you into a different kind of person.
Be bold; hold God to His word: “Lord, You promise to give the weary strength. I am bone weary. You promise to give power to one who lacks it. I feel powerless. You promise to give the ignorant wisdom. I am clueless about what to do.”
Instead of running from the difficulties of marriage, let’s allow them to teach us the glory of spiritual dependence on God. Let’s accept the invitation to become a different kind of person. It may not be what we want of our marriage, but it may, in given seasons, be what we most need from our marriage.
Parma Ohio Towing Service says
This is so true in marriage. God often pushes us out of our comfort zone in order for us to grow in God and grow in our marriage. A God centered marriage is a not a perfect one, it is where both partners submit their wills to God and take care of each other.
Kristy says
Really, Rett did great! Love this blog (& anything you write!)… Thanks for all you do…what a blessing. – kh
jbnbmom says
What about a husband who is an addict? I take care of everything at home and I am the only one who works. My son who is in elementary school is seeing this as his normal. I need to disengage and possibly get out or it will ruin us. Being his caretaker too causes me resentment and bitterness.
Kim Stari says
Thanks, Gary! I love how you are encouraging us to grow in Christ! This is a challenging but at the same time encouraging word that God uses hardship for good to bring more of Christ in us. May we all remember this when the trials are here.
Sandy says
Thanks exactly where I am at right now. Message was just for me!!!
Nuhu Shekarau says
I was thinking I’m the ONLY one this message is meant for! Thanks Gary.
Hyecha says
I am learning a lot after the divorce year ago and during those 2 1/2 years of preparing for divorce, 26 years. He did not know how to keep the marriage in God. I could have have become mature Christian woman but I was growing in the word of God when it happened and this divorce made me to become mature follower of Christ and felt and saw joy of salvation.
My heart was broken into pieces but God used and remolding the way I should have been. He was cutting bad branches into the fire.
I am sure God has reason why this allow to happen to me when I prayed for this cup to pass.
I am always appreciated your blog and books.
I can apply this to any relationship.
I thank God so much for all the things He has done for my life good and the bad ones.
Lord showed me step by step and little light at a time for me to follow His ways through scriptures and friends and family members.
Thank you so much,
Sincerely,
Nala
Dianew says
BEAUTIFUL!
Beverly Joseph says
Have you done a blog on what God expects of wives in a marriage
Chidi Ogonna Okafor says
Honestly marriage teaches us spiritual dependence on God. Thank you Sir