Taking the Marriage Plunge - The Crosswalk Devotional - July 10

Taking the Marriage Plunge
By Lynette Kittle

Bible Reading:
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her”-- Ephesians 5:25

Marriage seemed easier to attain decades ago, when high school sweethearts couldn’t wait to take the giant plunge into Holy Matrimony after graduation. 

Young, hopeful, and optimistic, they weren’t really considering all that could go wrong in a marriage, or thinking of the fears and changes that could occur. They just fearlessly took the plunge into it free from over-thinking it and the heaviness of countless “what ifs.”

Also, during WWII, soldiers facing going to war, took the plunge and had the opportunity to wed their sweethearts before shipping out and thank goodness they did, too, or many of us wouldn’t be here today.

Their heartfelt choices to marry before going off to fight helped to keep our nation growing and moving forward, because although thousands of young men would never return from battle, losing their lives in war, many still live on through their wives and children left behind.

Marriage Is for Risk Takers

Sadly, it seems nowadays, marriage is too risky of a union for many singles who over-think and fear how it could go wrong, trying to figure out the worst-case scenarios, keeping individuals at a distance from the very thought of saying “I do.”

It’s paralyzing to countless singles, men and women afraid of missing out or choosing the wrong person, fearful of discovering a spouse isn’t as perfect as they first thought and reluctant to face the unknowns of unexpected struggles and difficulties. They want a sure-fire guarantee that their spouse-to-be is the “right one” and will remain who they think they are in the moment. 

As well, having the world at our fingertips has proven to be a bit overwhelming, with the possibility of finding a mate on the other side of the earth through social media, along with the available endless singles showing up daily on online dating sites, as well as the opportunity to swipe a new date multiple times a day.

This global broadening of the dating pool, with the lookout for the next best girl or guy, is keeping men and women from committing, fearful of missing out on their dream person who might just be out there somewhere.

Trending Plunges

Although individuals clamored to join others around the world to take the “cold water plunge,” an act supposedly proving how gutsy and brave they are, are still running the other direction when it comes to taking the marriage plunge. 

During WWII, marriage was trendy because it was fueled by thousands of men facing the possibility of going to war and facing death. In comparison, the risk of marriage seemed far less risky than the risks of war.

Still, the commitment to marriage and war seems similar, in that, both in wartime and holy matrimony, men are called on to give their all, including their lives, as the Apostle Paul explains in Ephesians 5:25 calling husbands to love their wives just like Christ loved the Church and laid down His life for her.

Men giving up their lives for their wives began in the Garden of Eden, as explained in Genesis 2:24. “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Both in wartime and marriage, men are motivated to sacrifice themselves for love, to preserve and hold onto their countries or their marriages, both well worth fighting the battles, enduring the wounds, and triumphing over the struggles.

Interestingly, in looking at history and human behavior, there seems to be a correlation between a culture willing to fight for their country and willing to take the marriage plunge, both based on men being willing to lay down their lives.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

If you are single, are you avoiding marriage because you fear the unknown and the changes it will bring to your life? If so, ask God to calm your fears and help you be willing to give up your life in marriage. Seek to trust God in His creation of marriage and be willing to take the plunge.

Further Reading:
7 Things Marriage Isn’t

Photo Credit: ©Sandy Millar/Unsplash 

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

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