Who’s the REAL Boss?
We wish that we could say that from that point on everything in our marriage and our business was smooth sailing, and that we never had a battle of wills, or difficulty navigating the marital waters.
The truthful answer is “NO.”
We have weathered many storms. We have even felt that our “boat” capsized occasionally.
However, after that awful night, we’ve learned, (thankfully), that our only chance of survival is to don the life-jacket that is Christ Jesus, and make Him our collective Captain. Once we figured that out, the natural, God-given order of marriage, and the role that each of us has within it, changed dramatically;
Leading both of us to surrender to His Sovereign leadership and follow Him as obediently as we can.
It is said that there are two sides to every story or at least every story that has two people involved. While that is true from a human perspective, we think that misses the point. That viewpoint fails to take into consideration the most important element of our relatively short human lives -
“Man is like a breath; his days area like a passing shadow.”
Psalm 144:4
That missing element is our Creator - our most loving God has a perspective as well.
Actually, He has THE perspective!
Isaiah 55:8-9 reads:
“ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways my ways’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’ ”
Understanding this, truly understanding this, requires a paradigm shift. It asks that we step outside ourselves. We must stop putting ourselves on God’s throne, thinking, feeling, and believing that our perspective is THE perspective.
So, you may be wondering how did this all turn out? What happened after the yelling, the tears, the Spirit-induced heartbreak? Life… life happened! The Lord in His mercy, love, and goodness, gave the two of us the opportunity to find new life in Him, together.
He, in His wisdom and timing, broke each of our hearts and wills, so that each of us would learn that seeking Him, clinging to Him, and trusting Him was our only way forward. His perspective doesn’t have to be understood by us (we fallible, mortal, fallen humans aren’t in any position to demand anything from The Creator).
We aren’t called to “understand,” or “approve” of His perspective, or His plans for our lives.
We are called only to obey.
That concept of OBEY was what changed on that fateful night. Chris might not be “the boss of me,” (Michelle), and Michelle might not “in charge” of everything. (Chris)
But… God IS!
God was, and continues, speaking to each of our hearts - “find a different way, My way, My perspective. Change willingly, because of your love and obedience to Me. Let Me be The Boss, and your path will be easier.”
Christ stated this point quite clearly
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30