Tag: In the Bright Place: Wisdom for Marriage

‘So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.’ 2 Corinthians 3:18(NLT)

Go outside in the sun or in a bright place near a window. Close your eyes. Lean back and feel the light on your face. Stay there for a few moments, eyes closed, shoulders relaxed. Let the light illuminate your face and touch your eyelids. Imagine God as light. Let the light cover you. Think about God’s love blanketing you. Safe. Radiant. Warm. Beautiful. 

Father, so many of your daughters are struggling. They want more of you and ache for your light to shine—in their marriages and in their hearts. I need you too, God. I can’t figure out how to live well without your guidance. I don’t have wisdom on my own. I can’t fix all my mistakes. Help me trust and seek you with my whole heart. I believe your light floods the dark places of my heart and life. You bring hope, love, and joy. Flood my heart and life with your light. When I feel disillusioned, help me know your never-changing truth. Help me seek you and see you. I surrender all of me to your light. I am yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

from In the Bright Place: Wisdom for Marriage

‘The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.’ Isaiah 9:2(NLT)

The light is large enough to cover everything, each sliver of darkness that wants to remain. No darkness stays dark. No problem stays the same when the light touches it. Darkness cannot stand against the light. It has never overcome it.

I stay here with you, watching light come in. I stay here with you, helping you desire light. I stay here with you, teaching you what light feels like on the skin, on the face, how it reaches every dark place— each corner of this room, each corner of your heart.

Tell me where you want the light to shine. Ask me how you can open yourself up to it. Take my light in you and raise it high. In my name, nothing can withstand it. 

I have given you the light, and I hold you in it, and you are filled with it, and you are not the same as you were before. All who see you and hear you and stay with you are responding to my light in you. 

That light, daughter, lets nothing stay the same.

from In the Bright Place: Wisdom for Marriage

‘For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 4:6(NLT)

Real life here is better than anything you could dream up on your own. It is hard and beautiful, all in one. You weren’t naïve when you believed love would lead. You did not have an incorrect view of marriage, only an incomplete one. The romance you yearn for is a true desire. It is good. I’ve placed within you the desire to be wanted, seen, pursued. It’s how I’ve made you. The hard part is that love requires the dying to self. 

Dying, you see, is never easy. 

It is strange, I know, that love begins with death; but you know, as you look to my Son, that this is true).

Don’t give up on romance. Don’t give up on love leading. See that window there? It will not be night forever. See that hint of gold shining through? The sun can’t help but come in. You know this: You can’t close out light, child. You can ignore it. You can run. But it will shine all the same. You see it by knowing it’s there, even if you only feel darkness around you.

from In the Bright Place: Wisdom for Marriage

‘Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”’ John 8:12(NLT)

My daughter, I will stay here with you. I will stay here as long as it takes. Holding you, drawing you close to me, is what I love to do most. I’m not going anywhere. I love sitting here, too, you know. I love having you close. I will stay here with you. I will never leave you, if you want me to stay. I love comforting you. I love reminding you how precious you are to me. I stay here with you, listening to the rise and fall of our chests. It’s nice here, you know. You with me.

from In the Bright Place: Wisdom for Marriage

‘For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ‘ Ephesians 5:8(NLT)

We keep the wedding photos in an album tucked into the alcove underneath the stairs. It’s next to the flower vases I almost never use, old mason jars and napkin rings stacked in the far corner. The album’s pages are stiff, the cover’s leather soft, worn from years of fingers. 

That young girl, barely twenty-two, believed love would lead. She believed love would lead every future decision she would make. She believed the details would figure themselves out. 

Jesus, that girl didn’t know what she didn’t know. I think about her innocence; she believed she was going to be immune to tough times. Her story, of course, would be a happy one. It never dawned on her she would face challenges in her marriage.

Jesus, that girl of yours was bright and sweet but didn’t know you like I know you now. Those dark moments I didn’t see coming? That’s how I found you. That’s how I learned you stand steadfast. 

I want your kind of real life. I want to choose love here—even if it is more work than I ever thought.

So give me wisdom, Jesus. Let me see the path. Set my feet upon it. Let me hear your voice: This is the way. Walk in it. I will receive your wisdom and stay here with you, your arms wrapped fast around me, never letting go.

from In the Bright Place: Wisdom for Marriage