Many of us haven’t actually seen a marriage truly work. Instead, the more divorces, unhappy marriages, cheating scandals and the like that we see, the more our hearts begin to mistrust the notion of marriage.
Despite all this, there is still reason to hope.
My own parents are divorced — and I’ve lost count of how many friends’ marriages have failed. As a woman in my 30s, I’m stunned again and again whenever I see my peers begin the path down the road of divorce.
“We’re so young,” I say in disbelief to my husband about yet another soon-to-be-divorced couple. “I can’t believe they have to go through this.”
Having an empathetic spirit is a double-edged sword — this much is true, especially when you put yourself in the shoes of those going through a painful divorce process.
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But if you had a front-row seat to your parents’ or friends’ divorces, or if you experienced an unsuccessful marriage yourself, you may start to wonder if marriage can actually last a lifetime.
You may wonder:
- Does happily ever after exist?
- Will I really share forever with my spouse?
- Are marriages doomed to failure?
And that’s exactly what the enemy wants — for believers in Christ to believe that marriage is doomed for failure.
Yet God designed marriage as a means for us to feel and experience life’s greatest joys — and God makes no mistakes.
Whom you marry and when you marry are major factors in the success of marriage — and although I don’t have specific answers to lead others to the right decision for them on those matters, I do know that marriage is worth believing in because marriage has been ordained by God. And I trust that He has our best interests at heart.
Perfection does not exist — but healthy, happy marriages certainly do.
I trust that there is a lifetime of love for each person, and I believe God wants us to experience this level of happiness and commitment with someone else.
God designed marriage to be joyous — and He knows that the love between two people can awaken people’s heart in ways they never knew.
As a married woman approaching her six-year anniversary, I’m still learning about marital wisdom — but someone very special to my husband and me shared wonderful advice with us.
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It’s a piece of advice I hold dear to my heart and that has been tremendously helpful: Pursue Jesus together, and remember that marriage is not only about you and your partner, but about your relationship with God.
Since God designed marriage, it only makes sense that a marriage worth believing in has Christ at its forefront.
Few get married in the hope that their relationship doesn’t end in divorce. However, things happen.
Not a single relationship on Earth is 100 percent failproof. Even those who grew up in a two-parent household, who witnessed loving, healthy marriages, and who have a strong foundation of faith can face challenges within marriage.
Related: Secrets of a Lasting Marriage
Because it is a bond between two sinners, discord is inevitable; however, when two people seek God’s grace and understanding and use that as a basis for their union, they welcome Him into the flawed parts of marriage.
Perfection does not exist — but healthy, happy marriages certainly do.
Remember all of this. God purposefully and lovingly designed marriage — and He created marriage to foretell our everlasting bond with Him.
Since the one and only Perfect Being designed marriage, I know He wants to lead us to “happily ever after” with our partner.
Luci Swan is a writer for Lightworkers, whose mission is to create engaging, uplifting and inspirational content.
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