Life as a Christian Woman

“What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
Mark 10:9

Today is the day.

The day that my step-daughter gets married.

Last night we had the rehearsal, and her mom and dad struggled to get through the night. Today will be much worse. The groom has been summarily threatened if he fails to take care of daddy’s little girl. The flower girl has informed the bride (her sister) that no one will be looking at the bride because all eyes will be on her. Family has come in and decorated the hall, put together the reception, prepared to videotape. Dresses bought, tuxes rented, music selected.

Weddings entail so much. There is much emotion, much joy, and much credit card debt! But often we lose sight of what occurs on that day when two become one. The vow the couple takes is before God. They promise God they will love each other, forsaking others. And family and friends promise to support the marriage, pray for the couple, lift them up.

But once the bride and groom have left, once the dress is packed, tuxes returned, reality sets in. And unless God is at the head of the marriage, trouble will follow.

No marriage is perfect. Even the most faithful Christians will have problems within the marriage. The difference is, with God as the head of the marriage, the foundation, the couple can retreat into His arms. They can go to Him with their concerns. And they know that failure cannot be an option. They must do their best to keep the marriage holy in God’s eyes.

The Bible speaks of couples being “equally yoked.” 2 Corinthians 6:14 says:

¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

The word “yoke” refers to a device that join oxen together when they are pulling a wagon. When the oxen are equally yoked, things run smoothly, they work as a team. When the yoke is not set properly, when it is uneven, the oxen work against each other, and cannot pull the load well.

So it is with Christians. We are to be equally yoked, to work together as a team. If we aren’t on the same page as our spouse, we can’t accomplish the works that God has planned for us.

Today I hope all goes well with the wedding. I hope Sarah and Devin have the wedding of their dreams. But I pray that they have the marriage that God desires.