Marriage is a journey, and you’re supposed to enjoy the ride. But the road is sometimes bumpy, and navigation can be tricky. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guidebook for marriage?
Well … you likely already do. In fact, if you own a Bible, you have the BEST guidebook around. Following biblical principles can help you navigate your married life and everything in-between.
My mom taught me this by example.
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Relationship Role Models
Today is my parent’s wedding anniversary. Despite the road bumps, they stayed on course for 46 years. They built a life together and created a home to savor.
My dad lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease nine years ago. He was a good man – hard working and honest.
But only the Lord knows his heart. He never spoke of a personal relationship with God.
My mom talked about God a lot, and I see the difference He makes in her life.
She’s the one who made our home a “Christian home.” She led me to Christ, and she is my model for marriage.
Mom knows the joys and sorrows of marriage, and she knows her guidebook well. The worn edges tell a story of questions asked, lessons learned, and challenges overcome.
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Expectations and Challenges
Someone said “weddings are wonderful, but marriages are challenging.” It’s true. No marriage is a smooth ride, free of potholes and bumps in the road. Every marriage has challenges, and mine is no exception.
Mitch and I recently celebrated eleven years of marriage, and I thought about our little country wedding. As we exchanged our wedding vows, my heart brimmed with love … and expectations.
I was a first-time bride in midlife, and my newlywed mind had a clear picture of marriage – how it would look, how it would feel, how it would be. Or so I thought.
I soon discovered that marriage is not what my imagination painted on my wedding day. Marriage is wonderful, but it’s also challenging – especially for midlife couples with step-families and histories.
When my marriage is tested and the road gets bumpy, I need a marriage guidebook. I need perspective and clarity, wisdom and direction.
My Bible has all this and more (2 Peter 1:3).
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The Best Guidebook for Marriage
The Bible is the best guidebook for marriage – and for life, in general. It’s your instruction manual for every situation, whether you’re married or single, widowed or divorced.
“A relationship with God is the key to all of life, including your marriage,” said author Elizabeth George.
“And that means learning what God, the Creator of all things [including marriage] has to say,” she said.
I’ve learned a lot about marriage since my wedding. From the Bible and books like this one. →
For example, I learned that most of my expectations were unrealistic. False assumptions. Honeymoon illusions.
More important, I realized that I never bothered to run my expectations by God. He knows how marriage should look (Ephesians 5). After all, it was His idea!
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Your Relationship With God
Is your married life complicated, messy, or hard work? Does your marriage differ from the picture-perfect image you envisioned on your wedding day?
You’re not alone. All relationships – even healthy Christian marriages – have problems now and then. Without a solid spiritual foundation, any marriage can get bumpy.
For yours to thrive, you must seek God first and foremost (Matthew 6:33). Alone, by yourself and together as a couple. As I discovered in my marriage, everything is easier when you connect with God.
Whether you’re new to marriage or well-seasoned, your married life will benefit from sound instruction. If you own a Bible, you already have the best guidebook for marriage.
As you read the Bible and consult with God, thank Him for His divine guidelines. He knows every question about marriage, and His Word has all the answers.
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Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. How do you navigate your married life? Apart from the Bible, what marriage resource(s) can you recommend?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
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