How You Can Create a Better Marriage

Beneath happy Facebook family photos often lies a different story. The not-so-beautiful real story of life and marriage. The moments you wouldn’t pause to capture on film, and the conversations you wouldn’t dare caption ‘marriage is hard.’

There’s a story in the Bible (Matthew 12:10-13) about a man with a withered hand. Jesus had just entered the city of Capernaum. It was the Sabbath, and many people were gathered about to see the arrival of Jesus.

Afterward, Jesus visited the synagogue to teach. In the synagogue, there was a man whose right hand was deformed. Depending on which version of the Bible you read, his hand was withered, shriveled or paralyzed.

This was a huge obstacle for the man because it made his hand unusable, and he more than likely earned a living by using his hand. And without the use of his right hand, the man could have spent the rest of his life as a beggar.

In typical Jesus fashion, He felt compassion for the man. So He called him over and instructed him to “rise up and stand forth.” (Luke 6:8) With obedience and faith, the man with the withered hand went to Jesus and did as He requested.

Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” I’m betting that this was probably an uncomfortable task for him. Since his hand was deformed, stretching it out probably caused great pain. But he did as was commanded, and guess what? His hand was restored.  

Pain is worth the restoration.

It was a miracle.  The man’s healing was immediate, and it was final. And the man had a new beginning.

Maybe you’re in the middle of a difficult season in marriage. Maybe you’re in the thick of devastation from infidelity, or maybe you’re in a financial crisis. Whatever the reason,  marriage can bring seasons of hardship.

How You Can Create a Better Marriage

Perhaps you need to stretch out your hand. Even though it may be uncomfortable or downright painful, maybe you need to do the work of bringing it to Christ, so that Christ can heal you.

It’s time for you to experience restoration. It’s time for your new beginning.

God is sovereign and His grace still heals, renews, and restores. The same God who gave this man a new hand is with you right now, and He will take care of you.

So, stretch out your hand, friend. I don’t know what that looks like for you. Maybe it’s choosing to let go of pride and apathy. Maybe it’s saying, “I’m sorry.” Perhaps admitting your mistakes so that you can move on in wholeness. Or, maybe it’s choosing to forgive when all you want to do is run.

If you’re in a difficult marriage, know that God is working right now to turn around adverse situations. Be confident of that. He will “show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

God stands ready to help you in every facet of your life if you ask Him.

Wife Step: Pray for God’s will, wisdom and guidance, and by all means, stretch out your hand. Trust God with what you give Him and what only He can do.

Shannon Geurin is a wife, mother, writer and speaker; but most of all she’s a fighter. She has learned what it takes to fight for her marriage and family. She is deeply passionate about empowering women to rise up through their circumstances and fight in order to find their greatest calling.  Shannon loves serving an actively engaged “Fiercely His” community via her website www.shannongeurin.com. Her authentic, genuine style and courage to speak the truth is a breath of fresh air to her readers and is one of her greatest qualities. An Oklahoma girl at heart with the accent and “y’alls” to prove it, she currently resides in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.  She graduated with a nursing degree from the University of Oklahoma, but spends her time sipping coffee, writing and doing what she loves most, taking care of her crazy family. Shannon has been married for more than 25 years to her husband John,  and is Mom to two spirited daughters, Alex and Averee.

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