Marriage Is A Healing Ground - Lisa U Maki
Our issues are like rust that settle at the bottom of the barrel. When God starts healing us, these rust rise up and start floating on the surface.
Most of the time we are not even aware that these issues exist. We have buried it so deep that it has hardened inside our hearts. Then one day something happens that stir up these issues from within. You start wondering where they came from, only to realize they've been there for years.
Marriage is a place where God starts stirring up these issues. It is in marriage where we experience the most hurtful things simply because our spouse is the closest person to us. We are one with them. They are the ones who will affect us the most... positively and negatively.
I didn't realize until I got into fights with my husband that I had severe anger issues. I have never been an angry person. What I didn't realize was that I had deep seated bitterness within me brought about by my hurts from the past. This anger was never expressed. And though I have released forgiveness for the persons who have hurt me, I have not really allowed God to heal me thoroughly. Or perhaps God was just waiting for the most perfect time to heal me, and that is in and through my marriage.
The fights in my marriage was God stirring up the water in the barrel so that the rust will rise up to the surface, and so that He can expose the underlying issues and finally heal them. For how can God expose my anger issues if I don't get angry? And who else can make me more angry than the man I am one with, and a man who can be very provoking?
Other than my anger issues, God also started exposing pride issues, issues on rejection, lust issues, being easily offended issues, and so much more... issues I didn't know even existed or still existed.
Since marriage is the most intimate relationship God has designed (other than our relationship with Him), it follows that this is the relationship where we will be most comfortable with and the relationship where we can and will be our true selves. It is in marriage where our defenses are down and where we are most exposed.
Nobody can know you better than your spouse (other than God, of course), and so God will use your spouse to expose something from you that you may not even be aware of. It may not be a deliberate attempt of your spouse to bring it out from you. It may be in the form of an argument, a heated discussion, or a fight.
Though God may begin the process of healing prior to your marriage, it is completed through your marriage. He who began a good work in you will bring it to full completion (Phil. 1:6).
The reason why marriage becomes the completion is because it is also where a man and woman experience completion. I am not saying that God will not heal you thoroughly unless you are married. I am simply talking about marriage and those who are married, and the kind of healing that takes place in that relationship.
Marriage is the union of a man and woman to become one flesh. In marriage, God's image is truly represented by the man and woman combined. This is why marriage is so valuable to God. It is in fact the symbol He used for Jesus and His church. The Bible starts with a marriage and ends with a marriage. It is for this reason why God will do everything He can to keep the marriage in the right perspective, most especially the marriages of those who are totally surrendered to Him. He wouldn't want to be represented in a disgraceful way which is the reason why He is in the business not only of healing the husband and the wife but of sanctifying them in and through the marriage.
So don't be shocked of your fights and arguments and even your disagreements. Don't give up when you don't see your spouse changing. Don't run away when your marriage is getting to be more difficult to handle. These are all necessary to expose your issues so God can heal both of you and therefore sanctify you.
Let God complete the process that He already started. He promised that He will perfect that which concerns you (Psalm 138:8). However, you have to cooperate with Him through your total surrender to what He is doing. Ask Him to show you what He is exposing from you. Ask Him to reveal to you. If you are serious enough, He will.
God bless you!
Lisa Maki is the founder of God'z Gurlz, a Bible-based online magazine for women whose mission is to is to provide a place where women can learn to manage their emotions, experience healing, receive love and acceptance, be free to be who God made them to be, and be the best they can be in their homes, schools, professions, relationships, and calling, through sharing of insights and experiences, counseling, prayer, and devotionals, thereby learning from and supporting each other. For more of Lisa's articles, visit http://godzgurlz.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_U_Maki Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7155941