I ran into a very troubling scene on a Monday morning after dropping off my kids in school. I saw a man holding his head with some serious bleeds. The wife had just smashed a heavy metal on his head after breaking his car windscreen. I heard the neighbours lamenting how much of a problem the woman had been to the man. I nodded in pity for the unfortunate husband. But I learnt a lesson; no marriage is perfect. But Jesus can help you through yours.
Friend, no marriage is perfect. But Jesus can help you through yours (John 2:1-11). I have always taught people that marriage was originally meant for the man before the fall. Think of it, marriage existed before the fall (Genesis 2:18-25). It was instituted by God before the devil came in. The first marriage failed as a result of satanic intrusion (Genesis 3:1-20). This is the same reason marriages are suffering today. The enemy sowed tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-28).
Sadly, the devil has entered a lot of marriages before they ever started. Most people have been programmed to fail maritally right from their childhood or singlehood. There is a need for reprogramming if you would succeed maritally (Romans 12:1-2). The woman who beat up her husband has been programmed that way before the marriage. It did not just start today.
The irresponsible husband has been so programmed (Proverbs 31:1-9). I know the economy is hard, but challenges only reveal what we are made of (Proverbs 24:10). I know your husband can be very annoying. But his behaviour only brought out the monster in you. Who you are before marriage has a lot of impact on how your marriage would turn out. Wedding day is not magic day. Singles, work on yourself, or rather, let God work on you before marriage.
Marriage is for two imperfect people leveraging the help of a perfect God to perfect their marriage (Hebrews 4:15-16). It’s quite sad to know that a lot of marriages are going through turbulence today. Like the unfortunate scene I ran into, a lot of people have their unique episodes of challenges, most of which are not even known to the public. The next time you think that your neighbour’s or colleague’s marriage is perfect, you might need a rethink.
Your journey into marital perfection begins with understanding God’s intent for marriage. Marriage was ordained to model or mirror Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). Until you know the love of Christ, as a man, you cannot love your wife, and until you submit your life to Christ, as a woman, you cannot submit to your husband. No marriage can be better and stronger than the revelation of Christ in that marriage.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria