I’ve been struggling recently with a stressful, painful situation in my extended family. This weekend my husband was out of town and I hit my breaking point. I was consumed with worry and a desire to fix things, and found myself crying at the drop of a hat.
When I told him what was happening and how I was feeling and everything I was thinking of and what I was doing about it he said these precious words: “Why don’t you just let me handle it?”
Immediately a weight dropped from my shoulders. How wonderful! There was no need to fear, no need to fix, no need to fret. My husband would say what needed to be said and do what needed to be done.
As I have pondered the words and deeds of my knight in shining armor, God has used it to give me a picture of Christ’s love for the church.
Christ intercedes for His bride. He stands in the gap for her. He protects her and honors her. He tells her not to fear but to trust in Him. He works on her behalf. He laid His very life down for her.
The Lord brought these verses to mind today: “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5: 24-25
The testimony of my husband’s love led me to worship Christ the bridegroom. Could I, in turn, encourage my husband in his relationship with Christ by my willingness to submit to him in everything?
I’ve always known that our marriage is a picture to the world of Christ’s relationship with his church. But now I can see that we are also called to reflect this truth to one another.
“Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3: 13
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