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Marriage and Family

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“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Do you ever struggle in your marriage?…

Now that I’m done rolling on the floor laughing, maybe I’ll just sit at my desk crying. The fact is, every marriage goes through struggles. Based on statistics and the community I live in, I would say that not very many people know how to struggle in their marriage. And, for those that are trying to read in-between the lines, Rebecca and I are good. Do we have seasons of struggle? Absolutely!

It is very important to know how to struggle in your marriage. In case you are reading this and are hoping I am going to give you a 1,2,3…point list in ‘how to’, I’m not. All I have right now are some encouraging words and mostly the scripture above to point you to the One Person that can help you the most.

I recently listened to an online broadcast from Focus on the Family with Dr. Greg Smalley entitled “Exploring the Depth of Intimacy in Marriage”.[1] One thing he said on the broadcast that really stuck out in my mind was when he said that the worst question you can ask yourself in marriage is, “How can I have a better marriage?” At first, I didn’t quite understand because I always want to try and have a better marriage! But as he explained that when we ask the question, it often gets our focus on our spouse and how they could be better. That is not good. The better question is, “What can I do to be a better husband or wife?” This is the real heart of the issue.

The passage above never gets old when our relationship needs a boost. Taking a personal inventory of how I can love better is always the right thing to do!

Seasons of struggle in marriage are normal, continuing to suffer is not. Get help from your pastor or professional Christian counselor if you are suffering in your marriage.

My encouragement for us today: Take a personal inventory of how you can love your spouse better; then, act on it!

Your Thoughts? What has helped your marriage when you go through seasons of struggle?

Have a Great Week!

[1] If you would like to listen to the broadcast, click the Marriage Tools link below and look for the Broadcast.

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