14/03/2017
Weddings are amazing celebrations of love and devotion in front of God and those you love most. Many couples, however, don't anticipate what's in store for them after the wedding...after the honeymoon...and after the first year they're married.
Marriage is as wonderful as it is challenging; and the further into your marriage you get, the more you realize it will cost you. Love...true love...costs us more than we can ever realize before the moment payment is due. But that's why the covenant is in place: to hold you together through tough times so your love for each other can mature into something truly God-honoring.
What does love cost? It costs pride, time, effort, selfishness, and so much more. But that's the beauty of real love: it's a choice you can make even when you feel like doing the opposite. You can always choose to give love.
Why must we cling so hard to our covenant to each other? Because when the feelings of love are absent, we're most at risk of making mistakes that will devastate ourselves and each other. We must choose to love through the difficult times so we can experience the promise of love for a lifetime.
The temptation is to just "try harder" when things get tough. While effort is needed, it's in vain if it's not motivated and fueled by the love of Christ and understanding his covenant with you...his promise.
Remember that Christ has promised to never leave you, to always love you, to always forgive you, and to always pursue you. That revelation alone will fill you with identity that is eternal and joy that overwhelms.
Remember the unending goodness of Christ as you learn exactly what "covenant" means. In doing so, your marriage will become a constant avenue for God's glory and your joy.
Stay fierce,
Ryan & Selena
