Ideally marriage is a place of rest and refuge as we navigate life in this world. But it’s not always the happily ever after we dreamed of. And faith calls us to remain anchored in a greater hope and practice of love even when our marriage is not safe per se.
To be sure, our life of faith is not safe in general. God’s people have had to face giants, fiery furnaces, lion dens, and the like. And while God often recused his people from these plights, others were stoned, sawed in half, and killed with swords, though they too lived by faith. Their faith didn’t guarantee a safe and peaceful life in this world, and the same is true when it comes to our marriage.
On the one hand, God might save our marriage from much heartache and grief. And certainly we’re forever grateful whenever this is the case. But, like many saints of old, our marriage might end in tragedy from a human perspective. And this is not due to our lack of faith. In fact, God might be using our marital struggles as a type of crucible to refine our faith, which is the greater purpose of marriage more than our personal happiness.
And it’s in the sense that our marriage is not safe. The point is for us to grow in holiness and this will require us to sacrifice our ego, comforts, and many expectations of what the marriage should look like. But, to be clear, this is not a point of resignation or despair. Like the saints of old who were afflicted and tormented in this life, we too live by faith and confidence in our practice of love because we’ve placed our hope in a better life after the resurrection.
In the end, enjoy the security and many earthy blessings marriage can bring. And remember God is exercising your faith to live in a much larger story. Keep your hope focused on his ultimate reward without expecting an otherwise safe and challenge-free marriage.
Photo by Jeremy Wong Weddings on Unsplash
