Do You Know “Hard Times” Can Strengthen Your Marriage? Here Are 4 Ways It Can

iStock_000010060677XSmall-300x199Last week I celebrated my 3 month wedding anniversary. I don’t know about anyone else’s marriage, but it seems like as soon as we said “I do”, hard times surfaced. Neither one of us had car issues while engaged, but didn’t those suckers want to start breaking down one month into our marriage. On top of that, my job situation became unreliable, causing me to go into extreme panic mode. Thank God I married a man who’s ALWAYS optimistic, and sees the good in EVERY situation. I guess he’s rubbing off on me, because after talking with him, I began to see 4 ways “hard times” can strengthen a marriage.

1. It can bring you closer.

Some of my closest friends are the ones who’ve endured with me, through the good, bad, and ugly times of life. A marriage that can survive through seasons of strain, will always come out on top. It brings you closer, with a plethora of stories to share, once you’ve overcome the struggle.

2. It causes you to depend on each other.

“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” Mark 3:25. This is so true, but ESPECIALLY doing hard times. There’s no time for playing the “blame game”. Team “US” needs to be in full effect. Remember the vows you took? For better or for worse right? Now is not the time to shrink. Lean on each other.

3. It can create discipline.

Sometimes when life gets hard, we immediately ask God to make our circumstances better. Sometimes God doesn’t do it. I’m learning that sometimes God won’t make our circumstances better, because he wants to make US better. Whether it’s figuring out what areas you can cut back on spending, or how to have more family time, hard times cause you to focus on what’s really important.

4. It gives you a reason to hope.
Have you ever been so low, that the only place you can go is up? Rock bottom is a beautiful place to start, especially for couples who have a clear understanding that seasons change. One phone call can change EVERYTHING. A door can open THIS week. It may be hard now, but it won’t always be like this, so abandon the pessimist state of mind and have a little hope.

Source: Blackandmarriedwithkids.com