"And we, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit"- 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 18
As my husband and I approach our third year of marriage, people might say it is still the honeymoon period, but I feel our marriage has been trialled and tested in these last years. It was really only this year, that our marriage truly felt like a partnership and that we finally understood how to work together in harmony.
We acknowledge our imperfections
Through our struggles, we have learned to acknowledge our imperfections. We are constantly being transformed into God's image. Until we get there, we will always need to learn from our mistakes and acknowledge that even though we love each other and are fully committed to each other, we have still fallen from the glory of God. Without the grace of God, nothing we do will ever be able to compensate for our sinful nature.
We appreciate each other's "flaws"
Over time we have both learned to appreciate each other's "flaws". We may see them as flaws because we negatively associate these traits as undesirable. Many couples can fall into the trap of trying to change the other person.
However, it is important to appreciate each other's flaws and not try to change the other person. We both come in with our own strengths and weaknesses and the change should come from the Holy Spirit. Let Him alone guide us to be better for each other.
A Godly transformation
Ultimately it is prayer and a deep resetting of our minds to come back to God and place God in the centre of our relationship making our marriage stronger. Slowly but surely, we are going through a Godly transformation. One allowing us to not only be better spouses to each other but to truly change for the better.
God's transformation is the type of change making marriage less about self-fulfilment, but more about self-denial. We have learned to deny ourselves for the sake of advancing the Father's glory.
If you seek God in everything you do, He will give what you ask. (Matthew chapter 7, verse 7). Our God is a loving Father who wants what's best for us.
Right before I met my husband, I prayed for a husband. I prayed not for someone to complete me, but for someone to challenge and inspire me to turn to God in my incompleteness. Love doesn't and shouldn't happen on our own terms, it should always be in accordance with God's ultimate plan for us.
Clarissa Yates is from Singapore but moved to live in Perth, Western Australia in 2008. Clarissa completed a BSc. in Molecular Biology at the University of Western Australia and is now working as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Western Australia, where she is part of a research team studying therapies for lung cancer.
Clarissa Yates' previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/clarissa-yates.html
