Don't be Dismayed by Delay

There will be times in marriage in which we reach a point of emotional exhaustion, or our romantic expectations come crashing down with disappointment. Perhaps one spouse has continually loved the other unconditionally, but because of walls in his/her partner's heart, there is not a tangible reciprocation.

The principles and commands in our Christian walk can and should also be administered in our marriage. You might feel discouraged or even disillusioned because you have loved your spouse and have done everything you know to do, but nothing has changed. What now?

Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Never grow weary in doing good toward your spouse. Think of it as a personal assignment from God and unique opportunity to show the attributes of God's unconditional love. One of your most impactful ministries can be toward your spouse.

If the marriage that God says you can have has not manifested yet, don't grow weary. Delay is a common tactic of the enemy and he will try to use it against you to sin.

Exodus 32:1-4 says,
1 "Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt we do not know what has become of him."
2 "And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me."
3 "So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron."
4 "And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, 'O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!"
(NKJV: emphasis, mine)

Because the Israelites could not see the manifestation of the promise in the natural, they took matters into their own hands and built an idol. How often in marriage do we say, "This is taking too long! I don't see any results!" You might even at times be tempted to break the covenant of marriage. Do not take your valuable adornment of spiritual beauty (like golden earrings) and hand it over to the enemy. We can make idols out of anger, disappointment, feelings of inadequacy, or whatever becomes the center of our relationship instead of love. If you focus on it, it will become bigger than it was intended.

This week, examine any idols that you have erected in your marriage that interfere with your intimacy, commitment, and love toward your spouse. Remember your priorities. Keep your marriage only second to God.

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