A popular song on Christian radio right now entitled Broken Together, written by John Mark Hall and Bernie Herms has led me to think about many people’s expectations of marriage. Here are the lyrics:
Broken Together Lyrics
What do you think about when you look at me
I know we’re not the fairy tale you dreamed we’d be
You wore the veil, you walked the aisle, you took my hand
And we dove into a mystery
How I wish we could go back to simpler times
Before all our scars and all our secrets were in the light
Now on this hallowed ground, we’ve drawn the battle lines
Will we make it through the night?
It’s going to take much more than promises this time
Only God can change our minds
Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete
Could we just be broken together
If you can bring your shattered dreams and I’ll bring mine
Could healing still be spoken and save us
The only way we’ll last forever is broken together
How it must have been so lonely by my side
We were building kingdoms and chasing dreams and left love behind
I’m praying God will help our broken hearts align
And we won’t give up the fight
It’s going to take much more than promises this time
Only God can change our minds
Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete
Could we just be broken together
If you can bring your shattered dreams and I’ll bring mine
Could healing still be spoken and save us
The only way we’ll last forever is broken together
Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete
Could we just be broken together
If you can bring your shattered dreams and I’ll bring mine
Could healing still be spoken and save us
The only way we’ll last forever is broken together
You can listen to the official Casting Crowns Music Video here.
How many of us have gone through these same feelings? We are surrounded with a culture in which “true-love” is portrayed as a love that completes us. We are conditioned to believe that there is a person who will somehow complete us and make us feel that overwhelming love that we truly desire. Is this a realistic expectation? I don’t believe that it is. Our husband or wife isn’t meant to be the one who completes us. We are all sinful. To have the expectation that somehow this sinful person that we love will never let us down or disappoint us is a huge mistake!
All too often when couples hit a rough patch, and every marriage will, they begin to think that maybe they married the wrong person. In our culture, we are too often willing to throw something away that appears broken rather than fixing it. What if instead of giving up on our broken marriages and relationships we were to come humbly before the Lord. I believe that when we come before the Lord in our brokenness that is when we allow His glory to be seen by many.
That longing we have to really feel loved can only be filled by One, the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
If your marriage is struggling, I really recommend digging into God’s Word and finding a Christian counselor. Also spend much time in prayer for you, your spouse and your marriage. Also here are some websites set up just to help strengthen marriages:
http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com/
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/marriage-challenges/page/1
I believe marriage really is worth fighting for!
Blessings,
Jennifer