Working in ministry, I receive many prayer requests. They include issues related to depression, anxiety, self-worth, addictions, and one of the most significant: marriage.
I read these requests and sometimes think - who doesn't have marriage problems?! Okay, "marriage problems" might be a tad much. But, let's be honest, marriage is hard, especially when we live in a dark and sinful world; especially when our schedules are so full that we don't see our spouse other than to swap kids for practices or when we lay our head down at night.
Sure, we need to learn to fight fair in marriage. But, speaking for myself, by bedtime I am mentally worn out. I don't want to chat about the day; I selfishly want to lay down in the quiet.
Several weeks ago, I woke up in one of my pity party moods. I grabbed my coffee and sat down to read my devotion. The title, "All Tuckered Out", was like a light flashing in my face and God saying, “listen to what I'm telling you”.
I started reading in the book of Isaiah 40; it grabbed my attention quickly. I have read these verses many times, but this morning, it was new, it was refreshing, and it was just what my tuckered-out heart needed to hear.
Isaiah 40: 30-31: Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, 31 but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.
The enemy wants us to stumble and fall, especially when it comes to our marriage. He wants us worn out, so that we are not focusing on our relationship with our spouse. Let me remind you that your marriage is a marriage that was ordained by God. And what God has ordained, the enemy wants to destroy it.
Our fast-paced life can overwhelm even the strongest marriages. Our calendars become full, and our time with God is pushed to the side. Our marriages fall into last place when it comes to scheduling time with our spouse. Kids, work, and sports schedules take over our plans, and we are left growing faint and our marriages weary. We keep saying yes to people and things, because why?
First, we don't want to let people down.
Second, we want to look like we have it all together.
Third, we have a worldly urge to do more than we should.
There are so many reasons, we could go on and on. BUT, we have to remember the enemy wants us "all tuckered out". He wants our schedules full and our minds consumed; he wants wedges in our marriages, families, and relationships. He wants to destroy our relationship with Christ.
Whatever season you are in right now with your marriage, begin to look at it with new eyes. Pray God would renew your heart and give you strength to see passed the enemy's tactics.
He is there! He is giving us the strength we need to get through each day. Trust in the Lord and allow Him to renew you and your marriage.
Cheryl Goss is Women’s conference speaker & founder of Connecting Ministries.
