Jill has been very sick with the stomach flu for the weekend so I get the privilege of sharing Marriage Monday with you this week.
After sharing with a group of guys about our marriage challenges and the restoration we’ve experienced, I was asked the question, “After all that, what is hard about marriage NOW?”
As I thought about his question, I found myself going through a variety of thoughts. In the past, I could easily create a list of what was hard and what was wrong in our marriage. Most often this type of question would cause me to focus on what’s wrong with Jill and most likely not include me at all. I didn’t (and don’t) want to go back to that way of thinking.
I decided to answer the question in a different way. I decided to answer it as if this is what had been asked: What about ME makes marriage hard? We all need to look at ourselves and what we bring to the table.
What makes marriage hard now? My flesh and my idealism.
My flesh: I have to work hard to keep this guy down. I’m so thankful that Jesus Christ has rescued me from me, and am thankful for His Holy Spirit who teaches and leads me. When I’m in my God zone, I do well in marriage. When I’m in my flesh zone, I am selfish, frustrated…and the toddler tirades come out.
How do I stay in the God zone? I do that by committing to grow, spending most mornings reading some Andrew Murray (my favorite is The Essential Works of Andrew Murray including Absolute Surrender) and my Bible. I journal and pray. I wake up and have coffee with Father God. This really helps me be the Spirit man and not the flesh man.
My idealism: I am doing so much better with this than I have in the past, but it is still there taunting me. If I’m not careful, the negative messages like “Marriage shouldn’t be hard.” “We’re too different.” and this weekend, with Jill being sick, “Will this ever be easy?” Idealism wants to draw me back into discontentment and I am deeply committed to not letting myself go back there.
What do I do to battle the idealism? I have to keep kicking out the unrealistic expectations and replacing them with realistic ones. “Marriage shouldn’t be this hard,” becomes “Marriage is hard work, Mark. You know that.” “We’re too different,” becomes “Every married couple is incompatible in some way.” And this weekend, “Will this ever be easy?,” became, “It’s not her fault she’s so sick. Jill’s usually high capacity and is rarely down. I just need to let her heal. Let’s face it Mark, life is not always easy.” I also keep idealism in check by focusing on what is right in our marriage and what God has done.
SO I ask you today. What about YOU makes marriage hard? What challenges do you bring to your marriage and how are you willing to grow?
P.S. Pick up your copy of No More Perfect Marriages today!
Thanks for your open and vulnerable answer to your question!
My biggest answer is my insecurity of not being good enough. So much of what we say and do in any argument filters through this blueprint of mine. My dad was mostly absent growing up. When he did show up it was grand promises and fun ideas that never materialized. I internalized it as I’m not good enough for him to stay. No matter how hard I tried. Not realizing it wasnt about that. SO now in marriage…..I go there. When i am there I cry, I pout, I blame and I withdraw. I’m slowly getting better about it, learning to communicate before withdrawing happens. Learning to set boundaries for outside things so I don’t over commit, and recognizing where my crying and pouting comes from.
Thanks for another great book of tools!
Shawna, the first step in making changes is to recognize the problems are there. You’re on the way to a better you AND a better marriage!
I make marriage hard because I put up my guard at the first sign of a disagreement. I have recently started counseling and I’m working on becoming more vulnerable with my husband because he is an amazing person who God has ordained me to spend the rest of my life with. He is worthy of my vulnerability and I need to stop letting past letdowns with others affect my relationship with him.
Good for you, Heather! You’re doing the hard personal work that marriage requires! I’m proud of you!