Marriage...Big subject, Big lesson...

So this is going to be a rather long post...but it's something major that God showed me last week. I'd had an AWFUL day at work. There was drama in the personal life of one of my coworkers, and it was scary...scary to think that my marriage could possibly end up like hers one day, and I did NOT want that. I ended up really upset by lunch break, because I had thought so much about how their marriage had fallen apart after 20-something years...I was just beside myself with fear and intimidated by the scary "reality" that these things happen to real people.
Well, I had flipped out all day, and all I knew to say to the coworker was that I was sorry and I would pray for her. I mean...good grief...I'm a single college kid who has NEVER been married (and isn't looking to be for a while longer...)...what could I say to her that would help?? I had no clue. When I got back from lunch, the whole afternoon, she didn't mention ANYTHING about what was going on. I was shocked, but I did pray for her before I left and when I got home, I was exhausted. Emotions WEAR ME OUT. So I was ready to just chill and relax and be finished with the day. Well, my cousin popped up on a chat line with me and said two words, "Psalm 91." That's it. No "Hi," no nothing. Just "Psalm 91." I told him thanks and I would read it before I went to bed....well, I forgot. I got the lights out that night and I went..."shoot, I didn't read Psalm 91." I decided I would read it in the morning with my regular devotions, but finally I realized it would probably be best to end my day with some Scripture. So I got up and read Psalm 91. OH BROTHER, did it speak to me. WHEW!! Every single verse spoke to a fear I had faced that day. I'll go through each verse and what I learned from it here, but let me just say this...these are not my words...God obviously spoke them to me. This isn't the way I talk...this isn't the way I think, but I wrote it all down as I read the chapter over again (spent almost 2 hours that night, writing down what I had learned). This is God's lesson in marriage to me...even though I'm still VERY happy single. =)
Psalm 91 (NLT)

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty." My husband and I MUST always stay in God's will and His ways. We must live daily in His shelther, and we will find rest.

"This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust Him." Even in marriage, I can't place my complete happiness, protection and satisfaction in my husband. I need to rust my husband, of course, but my trust in God should be infinitely stronger.

"For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease." ...like drugs, non-communication, mistrust, depression, anger, bitterness, hatred, lies, etc.

"He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." God will take care of us, and He is more faithful than any spouse. God keeps His promises, His vows, even when humans do or don't. He's the same yesterday, today and forever.

"Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, not the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, not the disaster that strikes at midday." There's no telling what my coworker's husband did at night, and how the covered it in the morning - the words...even cutting, piercing, abusive words he would say to my coworker are not somthing that I have to worry about if I stay in that shelter God provides. I do not have to dread the ever-spreading, dadly and infectous disease of divorce. Id on't have to dread that if Chrsit is always center-stage and at the forefront of every decision and situation.

"Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you." This is when I started crying again...Look at the statistics - everything pretty much predicts that my marriage simply will not last. We will fall out of love, one will be unfaithful, finances will cause us to hate one another and divorce. In my coworkers family, drugs ruined their lives. But I have a PROMISE!! If I and my husband live in the shelter of the Most High, then although thousands and ten thousands are falling and losing those battles around me, it cannot touch me - it cannot touch our marriage. What an amazing, amazing promise. It's TOTALLY worth the condition of staying, abiding, living in the shelter of the Most High. There is no sacrifice to do that...live in the shelter of the Most High?? I wanna do that ANYWAY!! I'd rather be no where else.

"Just open your eyes and see how the wicked are punished." My coworker's husband will suffer the consequences of his actions - that may mean he loses his family, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord and not fall away over and over without getting up, to the point of no return.

"If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you, no plague will come near your home." Again, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, therefore, our home will saty intact, my marriage will survive and thrive, even if there are tough times, and my children with be raised in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord. They will be trained in the way they should go - through spoken lessons, and through example in my life and my husband's - so that when they are old, they will not depart from it.

"For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone." We will be protected. How many times has He made that promise now?? No matter what we face, we will be protected from its evels because all in my house will fear and serve the Lord.

"You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!" This DOES tell us that our family will still face hard times. We'll have to face and fight the lions, the cobras, even fierce lions and serpents...but we will overcome by the grace of God and by the power of His hand. He will work in us mightily and we will be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.

"The Lord says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.'" We WILL face those deadly and scary beasts, but we will not face them alone. He will be by our side!! He will rescue us, protect us, hear us, answer us, and BE WITH us. And when we have been tried and put through the fire and purging flames, we will emerge victorious, pure, free, blameless, and He will honor us. What a loaded, yet incredibly MERCIFUL promise!!

"I will reward them with a long life an dgive them my salvation." I don't know how many years my husband and I will have together in life, but I do know by this verse that we will live fully in the promises, the opportunites, and the callings He has given and will give us. We will serve the Lord and see Him working in us and through us to touch those He places around us. And MOST importantly of all...He has promised to give us His salvation. If we will be faithful to Him, not only will my husband and I be saved and enjoy eternal, everlasting life, but our children will also come to know the Lord and accept Him as Lord and Savior of their lives.



What a blessing and what a promise my husband (whoever he is...) and I have been given!! I am no longer intimidated or disheartened. I know the game plan, I am confident in it, and I am ready and willing to face the future...Just as long as he and I remember to follow one VERY important thing...we MUST live daily in the shelter of the Most High. I'm ready. Bring it on. =)

What has God been teaching you lately??