As kids, we grew up on movies with happy endings of wedded bliss. We'd watch with excitement as the bride and groom recited their vows, wedding guests tossed rice in the air, and the newlyweds rode off into the sunset. But in truth, those scenes never marked an ending. The fade to black was only the beginning — of a long, twisting journey filled with unseen moments of joy and sadness, hope and heartbreak. Because that, in essence, is the stuff of life; and bringing two people together in marriage only intensifies those moments even more.
The journalist Mignon McLaughlin once said, “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” And if you ask any couple who’s been together through decades of marriage, they’ll surely agree. The key to getting through moments of marital strain is to not let the hard days pull you apart, but instead bring you back together again. For those times, marriage prayers can offer solace and reassurance that just as the stresses of life can test your bond, they can also make it stronger.
The Christian life is a joyful life. We are blessed to have the joy of the Lord as one of the fruits of the Spirit. Exhibiting joy in our roles as husbands and wives is crucial. A joyless marriage is drudgery. Consider that the joy of the Lord is your strength, not only personally, but also in your marriage.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please bless our marriage with an abundance of joy. We started off strong, and it’s our deepest desire that we finish that way.
We want more for our marriage. We want to be able to laugh together and to enjoy this journey we’re on. Remind us to look for joy and to choose it over our sorrow. As long as we’re living, may we always find a reason to smile.
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.