“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20
This verse is inscribed on the inside of our wedding bands and was read at our wedding. Chosen because we were so overwhelmed by His goodness in bringing each of us to the other. For so graciously answering our prayers in seeking a mate, in ways immeasurably more that we dreamed.
Fast forward eighteen years to today, our anniversary. Now in ways I could not have ever comprehended…then, I believe this to an even greater degree. And in another eighteen years, actually a life time, still won’t comprehend completely.
I may have prayed for the type of husband I wanted and believed mine to be, but how could I really know or see without the experience of life together?
Without the circumstances and situations of day in and day out living?
Without the intimate knowledge of each other’s sin and brokenness and the grace and forgiveness that come in it?
Exactly what Paul is expressing in this Ephesians passage… We can’t fathom the height and the depth and the breadth of God’s love, only pieces of it.
Glimpses. Glimpses of grace that I now see as the more than I imagined part.
On January 27, 1996 I didn’t even have a category for that. It was beyond what I even thought to ask or knew I needed. But God knew. He knew because He set his love on me, and on my husband, before the foundation of the world was formed. He knew exactly what I needed so that I could see Him more clearly. So that I would rub up against His glory!
In marriage we have that opportunity more than in any other relationship… to shine forth Christ to our spouses by giving grace, seeking their good over our own; dying to self. Obviously not easy, as all who are married know. But in it God gives Himself, enabling sinful humans to love in ways not natural to us.
I don’t know about you, but glimpses of grace and God’s glory wasn’t specifically named on my list of what I wanted in a husband! Yes, I did pray for a godly man, but my ideas for what that looks like has been immeasurably expanded!
So on this anniversary date, I am abundantly more thankful for my husband today then the day we were married. And abundantly more thankful to God for giving him to me. And I stand in awe realizing that His love for me, demonstrated through the love of my husband, is still just a glimpse!
To God be the Glory!
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