Marriage Island

I’m exploring San Antonio Texas this week and I came upon this tiny island in the middle of the riverwalk. They call it Marriage Island. They perform small intimate weddings on this little island apparently. It’s a cute spot for a couple to declare their love and commitment to each other for the rest of their lives.

As I continued to walk down the sidewalk, I thought more deeply about the concept of an island and how isolating it would feel to be on a small island, without community.

Honestly, sometimes being married can feel like an island of aloneness. There are times, maybe for some of you more like a long season of feeling like you’re on an island and lonely, adrift from your spouse and maybe even from God.

If that’s you, I’m sorry. I know it’s a tough place to be.

There’s an expectation you have in your head of what marriage should have looked like. For me I think I would love to live blissfully on a utopian deserted island with my spouse and just feel like it’s just us and nothing from the outside world can influence us, no distractions, no emotional distance, no sin.

But, unfortunately reality is that we will feel alone sometimes and there will be times of emotional distance and distress and sin. Even when we are working on our marriages this happens. This is because the world is broken and we too are broken.

But, Jesus said, ..."In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!" John 16:33

This means that, though you may feel alone, you are not. Jesus is on that island with you. He loves you and your spouse. Keep digging into your relationship with Him, because He is who you need most. He's your lifeboat, your lighthouse, your bridge off the island of loneliness.

Also, He wants you to have deep intimacy with your spouse. He wants you to reach out and build a bridge across the waters. You cannot control your spouse, but what can you do today to reach out one step toward intimacy? Maybe it starts with just a gentle touch of the hand, or a long hug, or a big smile. These small actions can build toward bigger ones.

Keep trusting God to help you, to sustain you, and reach out to trusted friends, myself, and community to help.

You are not alone, and you are loved deeply.

Marriage is hard sometimes. Celebrate the things you can, find gratitude in the little things, and offer grace to yourself and to your spouse as you stay committed to pursuing Jesus and your spouse.

Love,

Kristi