“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18) So many times in my marriage I have the opportunity to choose how I’ll react to situations. I can choose to be hateful, rude, and bitter or I can choose to be loving, forgiving, and gracious. It’s not always easy to choose the latter responses when I feel I have been wronged. If my husband is snappy with me, I want to be the same with him. If he doesn’t show me the grace I think I deserve, I’m tempted to withhold grace from him.
So what should I choose?
Should I snap back at my man without thinking of his feelings? Who’s to say he’s not going through something and needs some grace shown to him. Or do I take a deep breath and ask God to work through me to show my beloved grace in his hour of need? I know what I should choose to do and how I should react to my husband, but at times I do the direct opposite. I don’t extend that grace that God has extended to me. I choose to be thinking of myself and my feelings instead of thinking of others.
God calls us to be like Him. We are made in His likeness, so that lets me know that we can act like Him with His power. He desires that we choose grace instead of selfishness. He knows it’s better for our marriage and for us. He will be your strength to do so if you’ll stay in communion with Him. He longs for us to study His Word so we can be gracious to our husbands above all. They are on our team and they need us, just like we need them.
So what will you choose today…….. Grace or Bitterness?
I encourage you to choose grace and show that to your husband. Whatever that may look like, just ask for God’s help. He is there to help you and guide you. Our marriage needs grace between each other. Choose wisely ladies!
Please take a moment to pray with me…….
Lord, help us to see our husbands through Your eyes. May we love them with agape love and show them grace even when we don’t feel like it. Help us to choose grace instead of selfishness when responding to our husbands. You give us power to choose wisely and to act wisely. Thank You for our husbands and our marriages. Work through them to show You to others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Building strong marriages together,
Heather Strickland
