Devotionals by FamilyLife
Caution: Please Enjoy the Trail at Your Own Risk
By Justin Talbert
“Honey, could you hand me my medicine?”
A simple request from my sick wife, right?
Except it’s 2:30 a.m. and she woke me up to ask, and the meds are in the car, which is parked across the apartment complex. And it’s (literally!) snowing outside.
But this is a crucial moment in our marriage.
Is my knee-jerk reaction an anger-saturated shock at even being asked?
Or is it (once I’ve actually woken up) a servant-minded, joy-seeking, “Sure thing, Babe. But next time bring in your prescription with you. I was just dreaming of a Jamaican beach.”
Most humans pursue their own interests. So our marriages follow suit.
But everything changes when we hand our marriage over to Jesus.
Jesus is leading every one of us to joy. It’s what we want, right?
What makes marriage so unbelievably difficult is the trail to that joy. “I’m gonna look out for me, me, me!” is natural, yet miserable.
Instead, joy is uncovered on the thorn-ridden trail of self-denial, self-forgetfulness, sacrificial love. When Jesus cements two sinners together, He says, “Your joy is now linked to theirs.”
Remember, Christ is the infinitely self-denying One and the infinitely joyful One. They are linked together.
Pay attention to the selfish groanings of your heart. Release just one of them today, in exchange for something your spouse wants.
It’ll be something ordinary, like fetching some medicine. Slowly, you’ll become more joyful because they will become more joyful.
And in the event they don’t—gradual, increased Christ-likeness will give you more joy.
Sure, these thorns will make you bleed a little. But Jesus Himself is leading you.
He’s no stranger to thorns.
What does it take to be the spiritual leader of your home?
The Good Stuff: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)
Action Points: The above parable concerns the kingdom of heaven, but apply a similar principle to your marriage. What might you sacrifice of yourself today for the joy of your marriage tomorrow?
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About FamilyLife Today®
FamilyLife Today® is a weekday podcast featuring fun, engaging conversations that help families grow together with Jesus while pursuing the relationships that matter most.
About Dave and Ann Wilson
Dave and Ann have been married for more than 40 years and have spent the last 35 teaching and mentoring couples and parents across the country. They have been featured speakers at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember® since 1993, and have also hosted their own marriage conferences across the country.
Dave and Ann helped plant Kensington Community Church in Detroit, Michigan where they served together in ministry for more than three decades, wrapping up their time at Kensington in 2020.
The Wilsons are the creative force behind DVD teaching series Rock Your Marriage and The Survival Guide To Parenting, as well as authors of the recently released books Vertical Marriage (Zondervan, 2019) and No Perfect Parents (Zondervan, 2021).
Dave is a graduate of the International School of Theology, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. A Ball State University Hall of Fame Quarterback, Dave served the Detroit Lions as Chaplain for thirty-three years. Ann attended the University of Kentucky. She has been active with Dave in ministry as a speaker, writer, small group leader, and mentor to countless women.
The Wilsons live in the Detroit area. They have three grown sons, CJ, Austin, and Cody, three daughters-in-law, and a growing number of grandchildren.
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