“COURAGE! DO NOT BE afraid. It is I!” Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water.” Jesus said to him, “Come.” And Peter got out of the boat and began walking on the water to go to Jesus. But, becoming aware of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?” Mt 14:27-31.

Marriage is exactly like the event above. When God says a husband and wife can live together as one (1+1=1) and you believe in Him, then do not doubt when distractions come your way in any form: financial, moral, illness, intruders, inquisitorial, etc., call on God like Peter did and He will calm the raging storm of your marriage.”Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not rely on your own insight. Let his presence pervade all your ways, and he will make your paths smooth. Do not consider yourself wise, fear God, and turn away from evil. This will be a medicine to your body and a relief to your bones.” Prov. 3:5-8.        

Abimbola Olamide who was arrested for stabbing her husband to death at Ikorodu on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 said, “I did not kill my husband intentionally. He was beating me and while hitting me, he broke several plates on my head. He had battered me many times in the past, but whenever he beat me, I usually run out of the house. But this time around, he locked the door to prevent me from escaping, pinned me down and battered me. I was helpless. I picked up a knife on the ground; my intention was to use the knife to scare him away. So, I held on to the knife, but he didn’t leave me alone.

“I mistakenly stabbed him; I couldn’t have killed my husband intentionally. My family already told me to leave him, but I did not because he was the husband of my youth and father of my two children. He usually beat me; you can ask around, everybody knows. But I have just been enduring it.” To avoid such occurrences, pray always. Jesus said to his disciples, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Mk 9:29. May his soul rest in peace!

Most marriages that collapsed would have been the best if they were well managed by the couples with the help of God. From the look of things, two people from different backgrounds will find it difficult to blend together as one but God who instituted marriage will make it possible for those who believe in him: he has the power to change people and things.

Before spouses live together for a long time, they will observe certain things militating against their union. These challenges pose many questions such as, “How did I come to marry this man/woman?” Some voices within you will magnify these problems to the extent that you no longer feel comfortable with your spouse: you suddenly become fault-finder on daily basis. Being with your spouse becomes boring and you may have to tell lies to keep you away from home. If on the other hand, you envisage it from day-one that there is need to bear with your spouse and support him/her when the need arises, you find it easy to forgive and forget any wrong done to you.

“O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the desert, when your fathers put me to the test:  when they tried me, though they saw my work.” Psalm 95:8-9. Do not put God to the test by destroying your spouse; rather listen to God’s voice that he may lead you to where you should be!

“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman because she was taken from Man.” Gen 2:23. God decided to give man a suitable companion to make him happy. So, man should encourage the bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh to unite with him and beautify his life in accordance with  God’s will!  

Dear reader, are you open to your spouse? Do you give him/her the benefit of doubt when occasion calls for it? No one is perfect except God. Learn from your mistakes and achievements every day. Your spouse is part of you: do not expose him/her to other people.Treat your spouse as a human being rather than a tool. You may refer to these previous articles of mine: Anger must not ruin us (31-5-15); She is not a weaker sex (13-3-16); Do not marry in a hurry (11-9-16); Manage your marriage (9-10-16); Be calm when in danger (17-9-17) and What it takes to stay in marriage (27-11-16).