When loving is difficult to do...

Luke 17:4-5

"Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, 'I repent', you must forgive them.  The apostles said to the Lord, 'increase our faith!"

How many of you have had periods in your marriage where it seems like, despite your best efforts you and your spouse find it difficult to get on the same page?  It could be for a variety of reasons, but ultimately the discord causes pain and one of you gets hurt.  The question is- what do you do with that hurt once it's arrived?  We probably all know the answer to that question- it depends on where you are in your love walk.  If you're advanced- you easily forgive, work to mend bridges (even if the situation wasn't caused by you), and you try to understand the other person's perspective.  If you're less advanced, you'll probably respond very similarly to the disciples- Lord increase my faith!  

Loving through pain can be a difficult experience, especially if your spouse doesn't really seem to understand what you're going through (or shows no interest in trying to understand).  But, here's where you can begin.  Think about things from God's perspective.  He loves us regardless of what we do- always believing the best in us, hoping the best for us, and willing to forgive us when we make mistakes.  If anyone has a reason to hold grudges, it should be Him (His trust has been violated by us so many times!)  Yet, each time we disappoint Him, He's quick to take us back, forgive, believe the best, etc.  We've got to have that approach with our spouse.  We've got to make a decision to love scripturally (1 Corinthians 13 kind of love) regardless of what it looks like, feels like, or seems like.  As a matter of fact- if we make a commitment to love like this- our spouse will ultimately meet our expectation (simply b/c we're not giving them any other option!).  It might take days, months, or years- but think like God thinks.  He's committed to loving us no matter what- and He's not giving up on us.  Do you have that same level of commitment towards your spouse?  

Here's what I want you to try today.  Identify one area of your marriage where you've been holding back your love (purposely b/c of some past offense, pain, or hurt) and do something for your spouse as a sign of forgiveness just because you love them.  Watch what happens and see if loving doesn't become a little easier as you soften the ground of both your hearts.  

SDW3