My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. – Henry Ford
My husband is truly my best friend and throughout our marriage he has brought out the best in me. Through words of confidence and encouragement my husband has inspired me to do things in life I would have otherwise allowed my doubt and fear to cripple me and hinder me from doing. He has taught me how to love, how to be compassionate, how to be generous, and how to serve others.
I have already raved about how the woman I am today is because of my husband, you can read my thankfulness to him for bringing the best out in me HERE.
And yet, I feel as though for this quote to be an accurate marriage quote for me, it would read:
My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me, and the worst in me.
You read that right…my best friend, my husband, brings out the worst in me. Ever since saying “I do,” I feel like my husband has been able to stir reactions and emotions out of me I never even knew I had. I guess because he sees me the most, and I know he’s not going anywhere, I am at liberty to behave however I feel like I should. This way of thinking has brought forth many different responses including rage and jealousy when the friction in our marriage relationship heats up.
My worst outburst and moments of regret have happened in my marriage because of situations I endured with my best friend. The neat part about it, is because my husband is my best friend, he loves me too much too let my unruly behavior rule over our marriage. Instead, as soon as it rears its ugliness, my husband draws attention to it and intentionally asks me about it. This confrontation forces me to remain accountable to my actions. And usually I am so embarrassed by what I do once I acknowledge it, I am humbled enough to apologize and reconcile.
God has used my husband countless times to address heart issues and behaviors in me that are my worst characteristics, and He then uses my husband to help in the process of transforming those parts of me so that I improve as a woman and as a wife.
Can I just add that this last week or two has been very challenging for us. My husband and I have been anything but friendly towards each other. We both have seen enough of our “worst” sides and we have been praying for peace in our marriage. We are not in a horrible spot by any means. I just am aware of the fact that marriages endure different seasons – some brief and others lengthy – but all marriages encounter trials, it is a part of life. We love each other deeply, but our friendship has definitely been feeling the pressures of life causing extreme tension.
Maybe some of you reading this right now are also in difficult season, where you don’t really feel like friends. Maybe you and your husband just keep bringing out the worst in each other.
I want to encourage you that its ok. God is bigger than our “worst” sides and He can transform any kind of behavior or heart. Lean on His understanding during this time. Pray that God uses you and your husband to transform each other’s worsts into each other’s bests! Thats what friends are for!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6
~ Prayer ~
Dear Lord,
I pray for the woman reading this right now. I ask that You anoint her marriage. May her and her husband be best friends and the most dearest of companions. Help them to understand how You can use each of them to bring out the good and the worst in each other, but that You can also transform them for the better. Please provide the strength and encouragement needed to have hope for another day and to endure through any season! I pray for Your will to be done in Jesus’ name AMEN!
~ Challenge: Embracing Friendship ~
Carve out some time to spend together. Do something that takes your minds off of screen time. Then make it a habit.
~ Virtual Marriage Retreat ~
Don’t miss my team members’ posts on embracing friendship in marriage. You can find them here:
Darlene Schacht TimeWarpWife.com
Courtney Joseph WomenLivingWell.org
Sheila Gregoire ToLoveHonorAndVacuum.com
Lisa Jacobson Club31Women.com
Ashleigh Slater AshleighSlater.com
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
