I’ve dreamed about my wedding for as long as I can remember. The specifics have evolved over time, but one thing remains constant – I definitely want to get married one day. God brought something to the forefront of my mind recently that I often forget: I am already married. It’s a truth that applies to all Christians.
Your First Marriage
“For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.” (Isaiah 54:5)
In context this verse is actually talking about barren women, but the more general application of Christ as the husband of the church is seen in other verses such as:
“Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband,
So have you dealt treacherously with Me,
O house of Israel,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 3:20)
“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church…
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved
the church and gave Himself for her…” (Ephesians 5:23, 25)
Fulfilment in Your First Marriage
Society places an expectation on us that we’ll be married in our 20s, and have children before we reach 40. Therefore, it’s easy to get sucked into wanting to be part of the ‘norm,’ and not being ‘left on the shelf’ way into your 40s and 50s. The most beautiful thing that I learned as I reflected on these verses is that Christ is enough. Yes, you may have a longing to have children. Yes, you may want a husband to nag about like your friends. But first and foremost, Christ needs to be enough.
Only He should determine who you need, and when you need them.
Of course many of us take this matter into our own hands with variable success…
Growth in Your First Marriage
“For your Maker is your husband” is a reminder that you and I have a chance to practice the principles of married life with a God that is available for everyone; rather than having a practice run with the wrong man… I hate cheesy, or overused quotes but this one is incredibly relevant: “a woman’s heart should be so hidden in God, that a man has to seek Him, just to find her.” I challenge you to think of any essential quality for your marriage e.g. communication/trust/love. In ALL cases it’s possible to hone said characteristic in your marriage with God, before attempting to demonstrate it in your prospective earthly marriage. I once shared a devotion on the topic of ‘everlasting’:
I slowly realised as I went from verse to verse, that ALL of the good qualities you could ever dream or imagine, originate with, and are demonstrated by, God.
So…
Ladies, seek fulfilment in your relationship with God. God knows the desires of your heart, and He will fulfil them according to His will. No man can ever give you what God can give you – unless He is married to God, too. If you’re honest with yourself, there are many legitimate reasons that God could use to ‘divorce’ you; yet He keeps trying to maintain His marriage with you nonetheless. I pray that your earthly marriage will be a reflection of your spiritual marriage.
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