This past weekend my husband and I went on a boating adventure together. He drove the boat while I rested in the bow. I love cruising through the channel at wake speed; it’s so peaceful and relaxing. The trees and water were filled with wildlife.
At the start of our boating adventure, we spotted a large alligator. Two unsuspecting kayakers were heading right for him. Our boat startled him, causing him to submerge; and the kayakers glided right over him, never even knowing he was there.
That gator reminded me of the forces at work trying to destroy marriage. Sometimes the Lord causes them to submerge and remain unseen; we simply pass over them unscathed. Then other times when we least expect it, they rear their ugly heads, catching us off guard and causing us great heartache. These “gators” are the trials of life intended by evil forces to cause destruction, especially to our marriages. In the past when the “gators” struck, my inclination was to resume normalcy as quickly as possible. I would endeavor to get things back to the way they were before the “gator” disrupted our lives. I’ve since learned that oftentimes the Lord is trying to do a new thing in our hearts. Going back to our old ways, our old routine isn’t necessarily the best thing for us or our marriage. If we yield to Him, He promises to use these trials to strengthen us and deepen our trust in Him. The more we trust in the Lord, the less pressure we put on our spouses to meet our expectations.
Quiet time reflection questions:
- Are you and your spouse going through a trial right now?
- If so, how do you see the enemy trying to use it to dimmish your affections for one
another? - Can you see God trying to use it to increase your trust (faith) in Him and to deepen your
love for one another? - Is this trial trying to get you to slow down so you can hear the Lord’s still small voice?
- Is this trial trying to get you to move forward into something better or something the
Lord has asked you to do in the past as a couple? - Have you prayed and sought the Lord’s guidance together?
