Love and marriage: It’s hard but it never fails

I can easily get sucked into the Hallmark Channel, and sometimes I have to remind myself that those romantic stories aren’t real. They are so good though! They feel good for the soul. Sparkling lights are glowing in a perfect mountain town. The handsome guy does everything right and knows exactly what to say. The gorgeous girl is sweet and humble. And every nagging conflict gets worked out in the end.

But rarely do those fit-for-the-screen movies match up to real life. Love doesn’t always feel good. It’s not always perfect. It’s sacrificial. It’s messy. It can be complicated and annoying. Everything is not always neatly wrapped up at the end.

Two sinners, living under the same roof sharing the same stuff, isn’t easy. And then throw in your personalities, preferences, background, upbringing, values, habits and more, then you know by then it requires a miracle. Oh and then throw kids in the mix? Then you need a double dose of miracle.

Yet we know in Scripture God’s calling on our lives to love as he loves. We know the promise we made on the altar before God, our family and friends to love our spouse — no matter the cost.

Yet the very thing we promised to do can still be the most difficult when we thought it would be easier. But isn’t “difficult” what makes love so extraordinary anyway? I don’t love someone else because it’s tidy and that person is just so perfect for me. I love because God first loved me — yes, even in my nastiest sins. He loved me when I wasn’t so lovely.

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.