Starting Out
Sometimes when you start out in marriage, you may find things aren’t as easy as you had expected. You may find what you thought was so cute and amazing about your spouse now seems to be “not so cute.” Becoming one with your spouse isn’t as easy as you would think. It takes time, patience, love, understanding, and tenacity. Starting out is only the beginning, finishing takes being tenacious. Another word for this is determined!
Seminar
When I was about 22, I had gone to some seminars about becoming better, being more disciplined, and going after your dreams. I actually learned a lot about myself, as I was not very introspective. We had to do an exercise that was not very comfortable and really pushed me. The people you had been spending a week doing challenges with, had to describe you, the good and the bad. They named 3 good characteristics and 3 not so good characteristics. Have you and your spouse ever done this? Maybe start with one if you feel you can handle something that comes from love and is honest about the way they see you.
Rude Awakening
I was in for a rude awakening because I didn’t know what people saw in me. This wasn’t something most people pay money to do, but if you want to grow, sometimes the truth that hurts a little will be just the thing to stretch you. Not remembering all the details, I know each person got to talk, and tell you what they thought, then you had to sit there quietly and listen. Sometimes the truth about yourself is a hard pill to swallow. One of the words that was used to describe me was tenacious. Honestly at the time I wasn’t sure I fully understood the word, and wasn’t sure it was a good thing.
Tenacity
One of the ladies told me later that I had tenacity, and that it was a good thing. Going home from a trip to California from Denver, CO. I thought a lot about what was spoken about me. Two things stuck in my mind. One was that I was scattered. That one hurt, although it was very true at the time. I have let that stick with me in order to change it. God has helped me over the years to become focused, and organized. The other word that described me was that I was tenacious, and it is what has been a great asset to me! Tenacious means keeping a firm hold, or not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action; being determined. Hearing both of these words have helped me to become a better person and wife.
Marriage
What does this have to do with marriage? Everything. When you get married, things are going to happen that may try to thwart your undying love for one another. You have to be tenacious! Holding tight to the one you love, your promises, vows, and not letting go! Being determined to make it work. Not easily giving up on what may seem impossible at the moment. This is where the rubber meets the road! You have to have tenacity to make it work in your marriage, and of course faith!!
Impossibe
We serve a God who works best in the impossible. No marriage is ever too far gone. God can do miracles if you will let Him be God in your life! Impossible is just a word we use for things we can’t understand, or fix on our own. Many have said things are impossible only to see someone with a vision and dream change it to something we see as possible. There is something you will have to do though. You will have to be tenacious, to not give up, and to have a mindset that says, “I will not let go!!”
Only God
There are times in your life, and will be times in your marriage that you know that only God can fix this. You may not even believe it can be fixed, but you say it as a way of disregarding that it can be repaired. Only God Can!! No matter what you believe, there is something that happens supernaturally when you ask God to step into an impossible situation. Because only God can turn it around. He is the God of miracles, and the God of Possibilities!! Trust Him today! It starts with you being tenacious first, and holding onto Jesus with everything you have!!
Prayer
Our prayer for you this week is to first take sometime to examine yourself. See if you give up easily on things, or if you have some tenacity. If you don’t think you are, pray and ask God to help you. He will if you ask! How do you see life? A cup half full, half empty, or running over!!? Praying you take any situation and first give it to the Lord. Secondly, that you trust God to help you through any situation, and thirdly, that you become tenacious for your marriage!
Scriptures
Monday: 2 Chronicles 2:1 says, “And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.” We have to have a mind like Solomon to finish what we start in building a marriage that reflects Gods glory.
Tuesday: 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” When you trust your spouse to be honest you won’t have fear that they will hurt you when telling you the truth. Pray God helps you to hear your spouse speak loving truth to you, and vice versa.
Wednesday: Colossians 3:9 says, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Learning to be honest is a great attribute! The truth may hurt but could help you so much!!
Thursday: Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Becoming tenacious is learning to not be moved! Doing this in the Lord, is a blessing!
Friday: Proverbs 31:11 says, “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” Being tenacious in marriage is about trusting God and trusting each other! You will continue because there is safety and you hold on to them without letting go.
Saturday: Luke 1:37 says, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Praying you don’t let go because you know, with God nothing is impossible!
Sunday: Jeremiah 32:17 says, “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee:” Praying for those who think all is lost, that you believe His word and have faith today!! Nothing is too hard for God!
Contact
Please feel free to contact us at janene@happilyevermarried.org, and share or read other blog posts at http://happilevermarried.org
Thank you for investing in your marriage and you can have a happily ever married marriage too!!