Marriage is meant to make us holy, but there are plenty of funny and happy memories along the way. Listen as Susie welcomes her husband Kevin to the studio. They look back over 30 years of marriage and reflect on the lessons of faith, forgiveness, love, and what the Lord uses to strengthen and restore a marriage.

Susie and Kevin break their marriage into three stages.

1. Living by faith.

Susie shares that she committed to praying for Kevin before she ever met him. God called her to live as one who was already spoken for. When she met Kevin, they established a strong foundation of faith, prayer, and Scripture. Within the first few years, they had three sons, high-risk pregnancies, and high medical debt.

Susie shares her perspective on the darkest moment of those early years.

“I was sitting on the couch one day, talking to my sister [on the phone] and I mixed up my words. She knew I was wrestling with numbness and other symptoms… My sister said ‘Hang up and call Kevin.’ I was scared out of my mind. It was the darkest hour of my life.”

The doctors discovered Susie had been bitten by the deer tick. “It felt like life was not at all what we thought it would be.” Kevin stuck by Susie through her battle with Lyme’s disease, and then he was diagnosed with cancer. Through every trial, they learned to lean on God’s promises.

2. The season of forgiveness

Susie shares how she and Kevin became over-committed at the expense of their marriage.

“I burned out before he did… but there was almost no connection between us. For me, I thought my love had died. I knew I would never leave, but I was ready to let my love grow cold. One morning, the Lord nailed me. He said, ‘I know he’s missing it right now. But you’ve committed the greater offense. You’ve let your love grow cold.'”

Susie went to her husband and asked for his forgiveness, and that was what God used to open his eyes. They committed to the “big rocks” in their relationship – praying together each morning, daily quiet times, and stronger boundaries on their time.

3. The season of freedom

Susie and Kevin are walking in deep prayer now, understanding how faithful and steady God has been in their life. They are praying big prayers and trusting God as they enjoy the empty-nest years.

Key Scriptures: Ephesians 3:16-19; Psalm 126:5-6; Psalm 27:13

Featured Songs: Restore by Chris August; We Belong Together by Steven Curtis Chapman; I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman; Long Way Home by Steven Curtis Chapman

Highlight : Young in the faith?

Lessons learned in marriage

This program has been previously aired.