17 Sep MARRIAGE IN THE DESERT
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Someone once told me that with all the wisdom I shared with her about making her marriage work, she was pretty sure I had no issues whatsoever with mine. I smiled, I think I laughed out loud and told her that I wish I could say so. My marriage is not bad at all, but it is not without its challenges. I have been married for only twelve years and it has been commitment, resolve, hard work and patience (on both sides) to make it get better and better through these years.
Some years back I visited Israel and was in awe of so much wisdom in display by the people of the land. I was amazed at how they could grow beautiful veggies, fruits and flowers in their desert lands. They have so grown these fruits and veggies that they even export to some countries that have as it were, lusher lands. As we visited some of these places we were told that it took a lot of hard work and patience making plants grow in these areas, they had to create the right environment for them since the natural atmosphere was not conducive for them. Hard work, the right kind of seeds and/or seedlings, the right atmosphere, hard work and a lot of patience were all in place to be able to grow plants in a dry and hard land.
As I thought about this post today, as I thought about our marriages, it occurred to me that a lot of couples look at other marriages and wish theirs could be like them. Most times it looks like everything is against your marriage being blissful, like everything being against gardens in a desert land. I also know that the grass looks greener on the other side most of the times, it is not always so, but then most of these couples do have greener marriages because they worked it out and are still working on it.
No matter how dry and hard your marriage seems right now, with some hard work, uprooting some wrong plants, planting the right ones and patiently waiting for your harvest would do a great good. Your marriage is indeed like a land, what you sow into it is what you receive, what you harvest from it. You can choose on a daily basis to sow kindness, compassion, empathy, respect, appreciation, love…into your marriage and watch it blossom into something greater than you ever imagined.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Even if your spouse isn’t doing the same right now, I promise you when you sow these right seeds and more, it will begin to rob off on him or her and with time, you will find that both of you are moving in the same rhythm.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The key here is to do it long enough in patience, being kind in your patience. You ask for how long? As long as it will take for the results to come, and I tell you, when it comes, the joy it brings will make all the pain, hard work and sweat very vague for you to remember.
Hebrews 10:36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Remember, a greener pasture happens with a lot of hard work. And when you labour, you will not lose your reward, even God says this:
In hard work there is always something gained, but idle talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 (GW)
God can cause your marriage to turn around and blossom, you need to believe His word; He has declared His ability to:
…even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19
So get to work, God is on your side waiting on you, it’s your call, it’s your move!
What’s your plan, are you working?
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Brooke @ Covered in Grace
Posted at 18:22h, 19 SeptemberLove this post. So, so true. The best building blocks for a marriage are love, respect, hard work and GOD. =)
Thanks for linking up Ugochi!! You are always a pleasure!
Ugochi
Posted at 20:29h, 20 SeptemberAmen Brooke! And many thanks for having me. Enjoy a super blessed day!
Lisa Vaughn
Posted at 23:56h, 18 SeptemberThanks for another great reminder Ugochi! Such wise and inspiring words.
Ugochi
Posted at 13:57h, 19 SeptemberThanks Lisa, I am very grateful you find it so. Thanks a lot for coming by and leaving a note, have a super blessed day!
Love
Toia
Posted at 13:57h, 18 SeptemberGreat words of wisdom. My husband and I have been married for about 16 and a half years. And let me tell you that everyday was not sunny. However, if it wasn’t for God’s hands on our marriage we probably wouldn’t have lasted this long. The great thing about our marriage is still going strong and I thank God for that. Thanks for sharing this post.
Ugochi
Posted at 13:52h, 19 SeptemberWow! Congratulations! God be praised for many could not make it there. God is the anchor for every marriage and indeed every life. Thanks for coming by and leaving a note Toia, have a super blessed day!
Love
aloted
Posted at 11:59h, 18 Septemberthanks for the encouragement. I think every marriage goes through rough patches…the key is not wallowing in it but proposing to make it work.
Ugochi
Posted at 13:49h, 19 SeptemberYes, that desire and determination is the first step towards a successful marriage. Thanks for coming by and leaving a note. Have a super blessed day!
Love
Journey of Life
Posted at 15:57h, 18 SeptemberDefinitely very inspiring post. I will remember this for as long as I live and I like the title as well. Thank you Ugochi!
Ugochi
Posted at 13:54h, 19 SeptemberAmen! I am glad you find it inspiring. Thanks for coming by and leaving this note.Have a super blessed day!
Love
A Proverbs 31 Wife
Posted at 20:30h, 17 SeptemberSo true! We mess up so often I end up in tears thinking of it. But just like we wouldn’t leave our garden go to the weeds, we still fight for our marriage.
Ugochi
Posted at 13:42h, 19 SeptemberFight we must if we must succeed in our marriages!Thanks for stopping by and leaving a note Kay. Have a super blessed day!
Love
Jamie Bishop
Posted at 16:03h, 17 SeptemberGod has absolutely turned my marriage around and the blessings have been beyond comprehension. And it does take a LOT of work. Especially when you screw it up as badly as my husband and I did!! Great post. The comparison to planting and growth are so true.
http://lovingwhenithurts.blogspot.com
Ugochi
Posted at 20:03h, 17 SeptemberOh you know how it is for sure Jamie, my husband and I messed it up too in the beginning. But thank God for His wisdom, now daily we work at it, to make it better… Thanks for coming by and leaving a note, have a super blessed day!
Love