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Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. — 1 Corinthians 13:7
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Yesterday I received an email that I’d been selected as a writer for a new devotional book. As I jumped up and down and hollered, I dialed Scott’s number. Why? Because for every minute I’ve invested in pursuing this writing dream, he’s also been investing. He’s listened to ideas, held me close as I cried after rejections, and pushed me to keep going when I wanted to give up. He’s got as much blood, sweat, and tears in my writing dream as I do. It’s really not my dream anymore, it’s our dream.
Every time I read those beautiful words describing love in 1 Corinthians 13, I get a little choked up at verse 7.
When Scott and I first met, I was coming out of a very dark and difficult season of life. I’d spent several years living outside the will of God and was dealing with many of the consequences resulting from my choices. I wasn’t whole, I wasn’t healthy, but I was on the road to healing. In one of those first conversations, I shared with Scott about a deep wound I was still trying to work through. As he listened to me share my story, I remember the way he looked at me. Not with revulsion at my blatant sinful past. Not with pity about the consequences and hurt I had a result. He looked at me with tenderness and true sorrow for the pain I felt. And he hugged me close and whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
Y’all, we weren’t even dating. In fact, we’d only known each other about a month. Looking back I can’t even imagine why in the world I was baring my soul to someone who was basically a stranger. And yet, he held my heart and my fears and my past with such grace and tenderness there was no question I’d made a safe choice in talking with him.
Shortly after that conversation, I told my mom I was going to marry him. Four months later, I’d moved from Missouri to Alabama and we were engaged. And that sense I had about Scott being strong and secure has never once been wrong. Even in the hardest seasons we have faced, he has always been steady.
Scott and I have always believed in the love we share. We’ve never expected the road to be without bumps but we’ve also never doubted we’ve navigate the path together.
But the truth is, some days we don’t feel the love …
And those are the days when we choose love. We choose to bear the personality quirks, believe the best about each other, hope in God’s faithfulness, and endure all the rough patches. I’ve learned that when we choose love even when we don’t feel loving the feelings will circle back around — and it will be stronger for the days ahead.
~ Teri Lynne
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Today’s Prayer
Lord, thank You for our marriage. Thank You for giving us a love that isn’t dependent on how we feel. May we continue to bear with each other, believe in each other, hope in You, and endure whatever challenges the road ahead may bring. We choose each other, every single day. We choose love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
MarriagePrayers: We choose each other. We choose to bear, believe, hope, endure. We choose love. Share on X**********
Thank you for joining us for #MarriagePrayers: 31 Verses to Pray for Your Marriage. Scott and I will be sharing a new verse and prayer every day throughout May, leading up to our 20th anniversary on June 1. You can find every day’s post indexed here. We pray you will be encouraged and challenged as you pray God’s Word for your marriage.
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