Love That Lasts: 30 Days to a Stronger MarriageНамуна

The Marriage Triangle

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:7)

God promises to bless those who trust in Him. The Psalms state that joy, deliverance, triumph, mercy, provision, blessedness, safety, and usefulness will come to those who put their confidence in the Lord. We need to rely on those blessings in our marriages-otherwise the stresses of life will pull us apart. And those stresses will come! When the house burns down . . . when a child becomes ill . . . when a job and steady paycheck are lost, it's all too easy to let fear and frustration drive a wedge between partners. Even minor problems, such as a nagging cold or a sleepless night, can disrupt the quality of our marriage.

The good news is that we weren't meant to succeed by depending only on each other. Marriage is a triangle-with husband and wife at the bottom corners and the Lord at the top. The book of Ecclesiastes conveys a similar truth when Solomon talks about the strength of a three-stranded cord (4:12). If we invite the Lord into our marriage and trust in His strength, we can experience strength and peace in our marriage regardless of the circumstances.

Questions for Today . . .

• When, before you were married, did God prove strong for you in a time of crisis? What specific blessing did He provide?
• How has He blessed you during hard times in your marriage?
• What are some of the little stresses that tend to drive you and your spouse apart?
• In light of what you've read in this plan, how can you and your spouse encourage each other to trust God more?

Prayer . . .

Dear Lord, I praise You that You—the God of love, power, and goodness—want to be a powerful presence in my marriage. When tests come, bind us together with love. When we are weak, be strong for us. Amen.

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

Dr. James Dobson has spent decades equipping husbands and wives with biblical wisdom, practical strategies, and heartfelt encouragement, no matter where you are on your marriage journey.

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