Alone in Marriage: Encouragement for the Times When It's All Up to You

by Susie Larson

Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.1

Instead of brooding over your concerns, dwell on the fact that you are loved and adored by your heavenly Bridegroom.

Refusing worry is never about having it all together, but about knowing that we don’t, and yielding ourselves to the One who does.

Often during these one-sided seasons, the Enemy of your soul will threaten you with fears and anxieties about your future.

When our circumstances threaten to bury us, it means we are carrying more than our share either literally or emotionally (or both). When I encounter such times, I now whisper a prayer, “Dear Lord, what part of this are You supposed to be carrying? Please help me to release it to You. You promised that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light; help me to walk in Your way.”

Know that the Enemy of your soul is alive and active. He seeks to weigh you down with a load of worry that will take you off course and steal your joy. Every day, check your bags; and if your worry has reappeared, bring it before the Lord, and leave it with Him. Determine to make this journey without the added weight of worry. Have peace instead. You will be glad you did.

be careful not to think longer about your circumstances than you do about God and His great love for you.

Stay on the Right Path—Remember to think on what is admirable and worthy of praise. Take every worrying thought captive and make it bow to the living God! Dwell on the faithfulness of God. Remember to think about all the ways God has come through for you in the past. Remember to replace worry with thankfulness every single day. Run From—Run from vain imaginations and “what-ifs.” Take care of what you need to, and release the rest. Run from trying to control everything yourself. Run from trying to fix or change your husband. Ruth Graham once said, “It’s my job to love Billy. It’s God’s job to make him good.”

mortify wrong thoughts at the entry point not at the exit. don't even entertain it.

This is contemplative pray. It is not Biblical because in doing so we are putting words in God's mouth. A better thing would be to pray Gods word to Him

Because I was carrying fears from the past, my present circumstances seemed overwhelmingly frightening.

Fear will ruin our journey. Fear will skew our perspective. Fear keeps us from taking in all of what God wants to show us. Fear will affect everything we do.

We all have a “pain pendulum” that compels us to react when we are first hurt in some way. Then, later on in life when situations arise that are remotely reminiscent to our initial memory, we tend to overreact and overcompensate, and our beliefs are once again confirmed that people and circumstances (and sometimes God) cannot be trusted.

Fears are real and the Enemy will use them to manipulate us all day long (if he can get away with it). It isn’t until we face our fears and acknowledge how they affect us that we realize that God is much bigger than all our past memories or potential heartaches.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. -Ephesians 6:10 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. -Ephesians 6:11 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. -Ephesians 6:12 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. -Ephesians 6:13 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; -Ephesians 6:14 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; -Ephesians 6:15 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. -Ephesians 6:16 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: -Ephesians 6:17 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; -Ephesians 6:18

memorize Scripture.