Standing Strong in the Storms of Marriage

Gail and I have been married for 44 years, and throughout our journey together, we have poured love into one another and into many other couples. But no matter how long you've been married, the reality is this: storms will come.

Right now, we find ourselves weathering a series of “storms” that are testing not only our faith but also our oneness—the very unity that God calls us to embrace in marriage.

Romans 15:5-6 reminds us: "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

And in Matthew 19:5-6, Jesus declares: "For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

These scriptures are not just words on a page, they are the bedrock of our marriage. But when the storms come, that foundation is tested.

The Erosion of Oneness

The storms of life—whether they come in the form of family struggles, health challenges, business setbacks, or community pressures—have a way of chipping away at the oneness we desire and have committed to maintaining. If we’re not careful, these challenges can cause us to drift away from believing in what God can do in our marriage to what we think God can do—or worse, what we think we can do on our own. That’s when doubt creeps in, and slowly, the unity we once stood firm in begins to erode.

It is in these moments that we come face to face with the truth: the strength of our marriage is only as solid as the foundation it is built upon.

Digging Deeper into the Solid Rock

Jesus gives us clear instruction in Matthew 7:24-25: "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock."

This is why Gail and I lean so heavily on God’s Word. We are committed to building our marriage on the Solid Rock. But let me be honest—it’s easier said than done. It’s not enough to simply place your marriage on the rock and walk away. No, you must embed your marriage into that rock. You must drill deeper, anchoring yourself in God's truth, in prayer, in grace, and in unwavering commitment. The storms may come, but if our foundation is firm, our marriage will not only stand but thrive.

So, to every couple facing storms today—don’t just brace yourself. Anchor yourself. Press into God’s Word together. Hold fast to the promise that what God has joined together, no storm can separate.

Keep drilling. Keep trusting. And when the storms pass, may your marriage stand stronger than ever.