Love Always Perseveres – 1 Corinthians 13:7
Perseverance is the ability to endure, to persist, to hang on and to carry on through many different types of circumstances.
Perseverance is determination to work hard and to continue, even when life throws curve balls or adds pressures that cause tension and conflict. It is important to have perseverance in marriage, especially when a husband and wife have committed to each other “‘Til death do us part.”
Perseverance shouts through your actions, “I won’t give up!”
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4
In marriage you will experience different seasons, you will have disagreements with your husband and you will fail your husband. Marriage is not easy, but it is worth it! In order to endure, no matter what season you experience, you need to persevere! The list below is provided to help you cultivate perseverance in your marriage so that you and your husband can withstand anything together!
6 Tips To Encourage Perseverance In Marriage
1. Lean On God
Go to God first and always let Him know how you are feeling. If you are tired or weak of serving your husband ask God for strength, if you are having a hard time understanding your husband’s perspective ask God to give you understanding, or if life is swirling around you and you feel like your life is out of control ask God to calm the storm and to help you trust in Him. Don’t rely on your own strength or wisdom to get you through because it is not enough. You need God to help you persevere because He is your source of strength!
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
2. Have Realistic Expectations
You will encounter hardships and trouble in this life. Do not be deceived into believing that a new car, a new house or a new husband will solve your problems. Although you will have hard times to deal with you can be confident that you are not alone. God is with you and He will give you peace. Also, you and your husband are both sinners so don’t be surprised when you hurt each other, it is inevitable. However, you can make the effort to reconcile every time! Having a perspective that knows trials and imperfection surround you will help you persevere.
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. – Romans 3:10
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33
3. Be Flexible
To persevere you need to be flexible with your time, flexible with your finances, and flexible in your relationships. Why? Because you cannot foresee the future and the things that will come your way. Do not let fear or anxiety keep you from enjoying life or from fulfilling God’s will. Be flexible and have joy regardless of your circumstance and you will persevere.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
4. Be Forgiving
You will need to be willing to forgive your spouse often. This doesn’t mean that you condone their actions and it doesn’t mean their behavior didn’t hurt you, but it does mean that you are willing to reconcile, just like God reconciled with His people through His Son’s sacrifice. Although it can be extremely difficult to follow through with at times, the impact it will have on your marriage is extraordinary. Forgiveness restores and rebuilds which helps you move forward!
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13
5. Cheer For Your Spouse
When you rally behind your husband and encourage him, you also encourage yourself. When you desire to see him succeed and do good, it will motivate you to do the same. Cheer for each other, affirm each other, and build each other up with kind words daily. Your words have power and they will inspire your heart to persevere!
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
6. Remain Faithful
Faithfulness is important to have in your relationship with God and with your relationship with your husband. Have faith that God cares for you and that He will fulfill His promises in your life. Have faith that He is powerful and the only thing you ever need! Also, have faith in your husband, that he is learning to be the man God desires him to be. The speed of the process may vary, but wonderful it would be for him to have a faithful wife by his side, encouraging him. Do not grow tired of doing good, even in the times you can’t see why you should continue on, remain hopeful in faith.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
May these 6 tips encourage perseverance in marriage. May they help you to endure through those changing seasons. Your relationship with your husband is the most important relationship you will ever experience besides your union with God. It is a priority. It matters. God is begging you to never give up! Persevere my friend, persevere! Loves perseveres!
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Challenge:
Download & Print out the free printable and pin it somewhere you will see it everyday to remind you to persevere! (If you can’t print it, perhaps just write down tips 1-6 along with each verse!) Pray over these and ask God to give you a heart that perseveres in marriage!
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I pray that I would be a wife who perseveres. Fill me with your strength and remind me everyday to lean on you. I pray over these encouraging tips for perseverance and ask that you would write them on my heart. Help me to memorize these verses so that I can cling to them when days seem hopeless or hard. I pray over my marriage. May your Holy Spirit protect my marriage from falling a part. Help me to have faith and see my husband as the man you desire him to be. Help me to encourage him and cheer us on! In every changing season we experience I ask that you help us to persevere in Jesus name AMEN!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. – 1 Corinthians 13 : 4-8
Questions to discuss in the comments:
When do you feel hopeless in your marriage?
How will perseverance change your outlook on marriage? COMMENT HERE