//TWENTY//

Two decades ago, my husband and I were joined as one in the Lord. In the sermon shared at our wedding, we were told that there would be storms in this sea of life. But as bright-eyed newlyweds, those words seemed irrelevant. After all, we were setting sail into the sunset.

It was certainly smooth at first. But it didn’t take long for the storms to come in our direction. Sometimes, the waves were so intense that it didn’t seem like we could remain secure in our ship. 

For starters, we realized that we were both fiery firstborns. We each insisted that our way was the right one and that we each have the last word. Discussions easily became explosive. We “resolved” our disagreements by not speaking to each other or internalizing resentment towards each other.

We experienced loss through a miscarriage and we grieved so differently. We had no idea how to comfort each other or even help each other.

While we were in agreement about moving from New York to Texas, the process was quite a challenge. Just thinking about the packing, giving birth, and moving three times in the span of a year stresses me out all over again.  

We have not one, but two children who have seen the inside of a hospital and specialist’s offices way more than most adults have in their lifetime. With that has come tough news, time apart as a family, keeping track of medications and reports, and not to mention a pile of growing medical bills.

The sobering reality is that anyone of these storms is enough to cause a shipwreck … but God.

Our sovereign Lord showed us that with Him, all things are possible for healing and restoration if each of us is just willing. Rather than fighting with each other, we had to choose to fight for our marriage. Even when we all had was one percent to give, God could still do something with our hearts. We can attest to how He has removed callousness, stubbornness, and foolishness. God has revealed through wise counsel how to see one another as He sees us, not as each other’s enemy. 

We realize now as we look back on our beautiful wedding day that we were in love with the idea of being in love. But after weathering storms together for twenty years, God has taught us how to selflessly love one another which has a depth that I could have never imagined. My heart just overflows with gratitude to Him.

Wherever you find yourselves today, be encouraged that God is the anchor who keeps us afloat in all of the storms we face. 

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)
~Joyce