Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:22-23, 25-27 )

My husband, Will, and I recently celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. I look back with gratitude on the years we have shared, and I thank the Lord for the blessings we have experienced in our marriage, despite the challenges posed by chronic illness.

I will never forget the wedding card given to us by a dear family I babysat for as a teenager. In the card, they wrote, “We pray that God will bless your marriage such that it will be an example of Christ and His church.” Their prayer was a wonderful, biblical prayer. Little did I know how clearly God would answer that prayer!

MARRIAGE BLESSINGS EVEN WHEN DISABLED AND HOMEBOUND

When we married in 2002, I already had a chronic illness. At that time, I was still able to attend college, and after graduating, I was able to work a part-time job. However, less than two years after getting married, my health deteriorated to the point that I became disabled and homebound.

Suddenly, I needed my husband to do basic personal tasks and household chores that I had been able to do on my own. I needed his help with cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, transportation, and maneuvering my wheelchair. There were even times when I needed help with personal care.

He was always faithful to help me.

Each day, Will sacrifices his comfort to meet my needs and handle mundane household chores. As he faithfully serves me, he exemplifies the sacrificial love of Christ. He shows me a small glimpse of the great love Christ showed when He gave Himself on the cross for my sins. Being reminded day after day of Christ's love through my husband’s service to me is an incredible gift.

My husband has a high calling to demonstrate the love that Christ has for the church. I, too, have been given a high calling. As I respect and submit to my husband, I have the privilege of displaying the beauty of the church, submitting to Christ. It is an honor to respect and submit to my husband as I do to the Lord.

MARRIAGE BLESSINGS - CHRIST AND THE CHURCH

Will and I are certainly not perfect, but I hope and pray that our marriage is a lovely picture of the gospel to those who see us. If our marriage can offer a glimpse of the beauty of the gospel to a watching world and bring glory to the Lord, then all the challenges of marriage with a chronic illness are more than worth it!

Marriage represents Christ and the church. A godly marriage proclaims the gospel to the world. A chronic illness in marriage does not tarnish that image. It can, in fact, enhance the picture of the gospel!

First published at Joni and Friends (Irresistible Church blog). Published with permission.

Questions for reflection

• How have you seen the gospel demonstrated through a marriage impacted by a chronic illness?
• If you are in a marriage affected by a chronic illness, how does your marriage reflect the message of the gospel?

PRAYER

Father, thank You for giving us marriage as a picture of Christ and the church. Help us serve, submit to, and show gratitude to our spouse. When others see our marriage, may they see You. In Jesus’ name, amen.