The majority of people will marry. How can you know if you’re truly ready for it?
Listen as Focus on the Family’s Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley join Susie. We look at ten signs that marriage is the proper next step in a relationship.
Greg and Erin start by walking through some of the things that end a marriage that don’t necessarily need to.
• Unmet expectations
• Conflict management
• Financial agreement
What is the key to being spiritually ready for marriage? One realization:
“You don’t need your spouse. Your job is to love, not be loved.”
Erin explains,
“Our culture says ‘I need him, and I need him to behave a certain way so I can feel good.’ The truth is, we are fully loved in Christ. He has met all of our needs. Our job in marriage is to love our spouse.”
Greg explains why this is important and how his perspective changed from the early years of his marriage.
“[At first] I would do anything to avoid conflict. I would withdraw… [the book of James] says when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity! Now, I see conflict as an opportunity to learn something new about Erin, me, and our marriage. I trust that will happen.”
Greg shares some final thoughts.
“God is going to use your marriage to help shape you into the image of His Son. We need to celebrate [that].”
Key Scriptures: Malachi 2:15; John 13:34
Featured Songs: Together by Steven Curtis Chapman; Thank You Jesus by Hillsong; Strength of My Heart by Rend Collective
