“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” (Eph. 4:2-3)
“And they lived happily ever after.” That is the usual ending of the typical fairy tale story. It doesn’t matter what happens during the story, you know that everything will turn out ok. Everyone will end up living “happily ever after.”
Sadly, in many marriages today, people think that living “happily ever after” is just that….a fairy tale! They think that there is no such thing as a happy, fulfilling marriage beyond the honeymoon. While it is possible, there are some obstacles to a “happily ever after” marriage.
FIRST—PRIDE is an obstacle to a happy marriage.
Our text verse says we are to live “With all lowliness…” Pride is the opposite of lowliness. Pride is lifting yourself up, not humbling yourself.
SECOND—ANGER is an obstacle to a happy marriage.
Next, it says, “…and meekness.” Meekness means gentleness. Anger is the opposite of being gentle and kind. Nothing will destroy a “happily ever after” marriage quicker than an angry spirit directed toward your spouse.
THIRD—QUITTING is an obstacle to a happy marriage.
Lastly, it says, “..with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” That refers to the perseverance it takes to support your spouse and fight for your marriage even when it would be easy to walk away and quit.
So, how can you get the “happily” back into your “ever after”? Verse 3 says you do that by “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In other words, when you saturate yourself, your spouse, and your marriage in prayer, you allow the Holy Spirit to bring a unity into your marriage that you can’t bring. Prayer is the difference between the best YOU can do and the best GOD can do.
Ask God to help you to guard against these three things which will destroy a “happily ever after” marriage.