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I was Born for This!

What would happen if we responded to difficulty in our families by believing in the power of God's grace to strengthen us in adversity? Instead of seeing a weakness or limitation as a point of frustration, we are called to let adversity define our commitment, call out the best in us, and depend on God’s love working through us.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Prov. 17:17)

What if we took this verse seriously?

Imagine wives facing social embarrassment with their husbands, or suffering a husband’s long bout of unemployment, or addictions, instead of getting discouraged rising up to say,

“I was born for this! I can love my man in the midst of this!”

Imagine husbands married to women who are gravely ill, or sexually wounded and suffering the psychological consequences, or struggling with their roles as moms or frustrated in their careers in a way that leaves them with nasty attitudes, and their husbands take up this biblical challenge and proclaim,

“I can do this! With God’s empowering Spirit, I can love this woman! I was born to do this!”

Instead of seeing a weakness or limitation as a point of frustration, we are called to let adversity define our commitment, call out the best in us, and depend on God’s love working through us.

The truth is, most of marry for very selfish reasons, but the Bible describes love as being showcased most clearly when we’re called to serve in the face of difficulty. A biblical friend doesn’t love only in wealth, health, social success, and sunny days. A biblical friend loves at all times. So, instead of feeling sorry for ourselves when our spouses hit a dry spell, or when he or she is going through a difficult time, let’s lace up our shoes a little tighter and remind ourselves,

“Here we go: I was born for this, to love my spouse at all times, even in adversity.”

Blessings,

Gary Thomas, www.garythomas.com

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One Comment

  1. Works in the opposite direction, as well. When my academic career ended in 2011, and my health went south, my wife was able to begin a career that has led to respect and great satisfaction for her, while my second career as a writer has been slow to go anywhere.

    But I can do this – I can be her cheerleader and her support, and see her ascend the professional heights that I will never reach again.

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