Love That Lasts: 30 Days to a Stronger MarriageНамуна

Believe In Him

"The wife must respect her husband." (Ephesians 5:33)

The male ego is surprisingly fragile, especially during times of failure and embarrassment. It’s one of the reasons why a husband desperately needs his wife’s support and respect.

Jane Hill clearly understood this aspect of a wife’s role. Over Jane’s objections, E. V. once invested his family’s scarce resources in the purchase of a service station. Jane opposed the decision because she knew that her husband lacked the time and expertise to oversee his investment. She was right; the station went broke. When E. V. called to say he’d lost the station, Jane could have said, “I told you so” and crushed his spirit. He could have been humiliated in that moment of vulnerability. Instead, she said, “If you smoked and drank, you would have lost as much as you lost in the service station. So it’s six in one hand and a half‐dozen in the other. Let’s forget it.”

A wife can “make” or “break” a man. If she believes in her husband and has confidence in his leadership, he typically gains the confidence he needs to take risks and use his assets wisely. But if she is competitive, critical, and disrespectful of her husband, she becomes a liability to the entire family. Read Ephesians 5:33 again. One of the most important keys to a successful marriage is found in a single word: respect!

Questions for Today . . .

• Does your husband feel that you believe in him?
• Do you know your husband's biggest setback or failure? Did you show support at that time?
• How can you better show respect to your husband?

Prayer . . .

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have not shown my husband respect. I want to increase his self-confidence, not diminish it. Please show me how to become that kind of godly wife. Amen.

(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Couples. Used with permission.)

Bonus Content: How Wives Can Minister to Their Husbands in Difficult Times

One of the most powerful ministries a wife can have is to help her husband focus on the Lord when difficult times arise. In this inspiring video, Brenen and Morgan Beeler share a story of a challenging situation in their marriage when failure seemed inevitable. But Morgan’s positive response encouraged Brenen to stay centered on his eternal purpose. Watch this uplifting video now.