It’s not easy being married. My wife and I will mark our 38th wedding anniversary this year. My sister and brother-in-law are past their fiftieth, and many folks I go to church with are well past their fiftieth, wedding anniversary as well. In spite of that, marriage is not easy. 

The divorce rate in America has remained around fifty percent for generations. Fewer and fewer people even bother with marriage. 

It is not entirely the fault of those involved… not entirely. Satan hates marriage. 

Marriage was the first institution created by God. Before He created cities, states, nations, and the Church, God created marriage, and subsequently, the family. It is the only one of those institutions that He created personally (see Genesis 2:24); all others He created by extension through man. It is, also, the institution attacked first and foremost by Satan, for he knows that if he can destroy the marriage and the family that all of society will be destroyed as well. 

How can we defend marriage and family? Build both on a foundation of prayer and obedience to God. Had I done this years ago, I would have saved much grief. You see marriage actually involves three people, not two: man, woman, and God. When the husband and wife have a deep relationship with God and continue to develop that relationship jointly, they perfect their love. Then they need not fear a failed marriage. 

Sure, they will still have problems. Temptations and trials will still trouble their marriage, but because of the persistent guidance of God, they will overcome them. The same thing is true of the children. 

Love perfected by God creates perfect marriages… well, as perfect as they will ever be in a fallen world. 

Fear Not, for “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18a

Horatio G. Spafford was father of five children, one boy and four girls. In 1871, his boy died of pneumonia. That same year, the Chicago fire destroyed his law offices. I cannot imagine losing a child, and I pray I never have to. Those losses, though, were just the start of troubles for Horatio and his wife, Anna.

Two years later, Anna and their four girls were crossing the Atlantic on the iron steamship Ville du Havre when it collided with an iron clipper named Loch Earn. Horatio, detained by business, was to follow them to Paris a few days later. Within 12 minutes of the collision, the steamship had sunk. 

Anna was rescued from the debris of steamship but there was no sign of their four daughters. They had drowned. “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand why,” said Anna.

On his journey to meet Anna, Horatio found comfort in prayer when God hid the grieving father away in His presence. It was then that he penned the following poem, later set to music:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,

It is well, it is well with my soul. 
Fear Not, for, though the world may not understand, You hide is in Your presence and lavish us with Your love. 

Twenty-one years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a very young Colonel George Washington fought in the French and Indian War. 

During the Battle of Monongahela, he repeatedly rode back and forth between the frontlines and headquarters, presenting an irresistible target for the enemy. Of the 86 officers in the field that day, 63 were casualties. Washington was the only mounted officer not shot that day. 

He wrote in a letter that four bullets had passed through his coat and that his horse had been shot out from under him twice. He praised God for His divine protection. 

Years later, the chief of one of the opposing Indian tribes recounted how he had ordered his young braves to level their weapons at Washington. They were expert shots; their guns “knew not how to miss.” But miss they did. 

He was, the chief said, shielded by a “power mighter far than we.” Washington was protected by the hand of God.

“Today you are going into battle with your enemies.”

Fear Not. Do not panic. Do not be terrified. For the Lord your God goes with you to fight.

———

This story is found in…

Barton, David. The Bulletproof George Washington: An Account of God’s Providential Care. Aledo, TX, Wallbuilders Press, 1990.