Part 4

“On our landing, pull both handles down quickly and the as soon as our feet hit the ground, run as fast as you can.”  “Roger that,” I replied to the retired Navy Seal still strapped to my back.  Well it was hilarious…I pulled the handles, ran as fast as we could and we both lost every cool point we had earned over the past 5 minutes.  We fell and rolled for what seemed like a long time…but we were on the ground safely.

In marriage, things do not always go as planned.  When things go bad, you have to learn to roll with it together.  The temptation will always be to be to attack each other when problems arise, but you should attack the problem together.  And then be able to celebrate together when that mission is accomplished.  Marriage is not easy.  Marriage is work.  Marriage is taking risks.  Marriage is tough.  Marriage is fun.  Marriage is a rush.  Marriage is two lives becoming one and moving in the same direction.  There will be arguments and your spouse will learn your buttons and will push them at times.  In the end you both have to agree to make things work and not just thrive but survive.

What do you think would have been the results if I had jumped out of that airplane one my own?  Well I would be dead.  The retired Navy Seal had made hundreds of jumps, in combat situations.  He knew how to read the altimeter, how to open the parachute, how to cut away and open the emergency chute.  He had been there and done that.  Oh yeah, he had the parachute on his back and I was strapped to him.  I would have plunged to my death on my own.  Like I said before, my personal space was violated and It was uncomfortable, but it was necessary.

Before you get married, get close to God.  It can not be any simpler.  You should be in a Bible study, you should be around Christian friends, and you should be serving in some ministry somewhere.  If you are not close to God your marriage will suffer.  If you go into marriage or are in a marriage without the Lord it is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute.  It will be exciting for a little while, but the landing will not go well.

As young couples date and go through engagement, often times they mistake their euphoric feelings for one another as some sort of spiritual confirmation from God.  To say that another way, they are so happy in love that they think the feelings they have are coming from God, but they are not.  To say it even another way, “They are getting high on their own supply.”  It won’t last.  A relationship with God is crucial to a happy and successful marriage.

1. On a scale from 1 to 5, how important is your relationship with God?

2.  What is the evidence of your answer to number 1?

(in a bible study, committed to a church, serve in ministry, daily devotion, prayer, Christian friends…)

3.  What kind of relationship with God do you expect your spouse to have?

4.  Feelings aside, how much do you love your boyfriend/girlfriend?