Marital (Dys)functions

God’s design for marriage is stated in wedding ceremonies like this: “The union of husband and wife is intended by God for their mutual joy, for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity.” While God’s purpose is wonderful, the reality can be painful. In Genesis 12, fear drives Abraham to protect himself at the expense of Sarah. The result is a marriage, not marked by trust, but by self-preservation. We see the same painful patterns today—spouses can too easily choose spats, too spitefully use silence, or too defensively build up walls instead of serving with a compassionate heart. Relationships can’t thrive when fear drives our focus, so how can we open our hearts to fight for love?