February always makes me ponder about love so naturally, I would consider what a sign of true love might be. I stumbled across an answer recently while reading about a love story in Genesis 29.
The Bible tells us that Jacob’s father blessed him and sent him away to find his relative, Laban. While on his journey he came to a well where some shepherds were preparing to water their flocks. He asked them if they knew Laban and they replied that they did and pointed to a woman coming their way. They told him that her name was Rachel, a shepherdess who is Laban’s daughter. Jacob was thrilled as he realized he had arrived at his destination.
Rachel took him to her father and after celebrating the family reunion Jacob decided to move there and worked for Laban. Jacob was grateful when Laban asked how he might repay him for his labor, because he wanted to marry his daughter, Rachel. Laban agreed on one condition, that Jacob work for him for seven years and then he could marry Rachel.
He fell in love with her the moment she approached him at the well, so he agreed she was worth it.
Scripture shows us in Genesis 29:20, that when seven years passed, they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
To say seven years felt like only a few days is a sure sign of true love, don’t you agree?
This, of course, led me to think about the love I have for my husband. I feel whole when we are together so when we are a part, I feel a little off. A week a part can feel like three months. Trust me, when I tell there have also been seasons in our marriage a week felt like a few hours. Ha!
For our 20th anniversary, we decided to go back to the place where we honeymooned – Gatlinburg, Tennessee. While there, we rode the same sky lift ride we had taken 20 years earlier. Stepping off the ride at the top of the mountain we rested up against a rail to absorb the breathtaking view. Pondering within my heart about our marriage I knew we were fortunate to have married as teenagers and still be married twenty years later. However, fear began welling up within my soul as I considered the divorces within my own circle of family and friendships.
Many of them had sure signs of true love in the beginning but over time those signs completely dissolved. I could not help but fear that would happen to us. My heart grieves when marriages end in divorce, but I also know that God’s grace is sufficient to restore, redeem, and heal broken hearts.
What about you? Are the signs of true love fading within your marriage?
I pray that you will invite God into your circumstance and remember a few things that can potentially refresh your love.
- Remember the love you experienced when you first fell in love. (Song of Solomon 3:4)
- Remember love covers a wounded heart. (Proverb 10:12)
- Remember love binds a heart creating unity and harmony. (Colossians 3:14)
- Remember to honor your spouse above yourself. (Song of Solomon 3:4)
- Remember to love as God loves you. (John 3:16, 1 John 4:7)
- Remember 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)
Friend, sometimes we become so focused on what we are missing that we stop taking steps toward cultivating a healthy marriage.
This involves realigning your focus from yourself to God and His Word. Remember all He has done for you and how He has shown you His love. God wants you both to love one another as He loves you. So, allow God to work through you to draw your spouse deeper into God’s love.
Standing beside my husband considering what would come of our marriage, I looked down and there was a penny on the ground right between my feet. God reminded me that “in God we trust” was inscribed on that penny. He prompted my heart to realign my focus on Him and what He has done in our marriage. That is a sign of true love! Loving God first and loving my husband out of the overflow of my love for God.
Growing Deeper-
One Simple Action Step: Spend fifteen minutes today reflecting on who God is and then enter into a time of prayer. Give God full access to your heart and make room for Him to speak.
Scripture Plunge: 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:2, Matthew 22:37
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