Sacred Struggles

Once a week, my wife and I read a chapter in a book together. Here are the best thoughts and comments so you don't have to read the whole chapter.

I know, you don't have to thank me!!!!

You probably, never heard sacred and struggle in the same sentence, but as you will see they do have a lot more than you would think in common.

Notes from “Sacred Marriage” by Gary Thomas (Chapter Title—Sacred Struggles)

Opening Illustration of Mt. Everest (p. 128) . . . Mountains are made by collisions. . . In the same way, the collisions of marriage can create relationships of beauty. Beauty is often birthed in struggle. . . The more we fear to suffer the more we need to do so. . .Suffering is part of the Christian life Jesus modeled. . . Few people leave a marriage because it is too easy. . . How many saints had adversity sent to heaven and how many poor sinners has prosperity plunged into everlasting misery. . .Struggle makes us stronger, but we have to face the struggle head on, not run from it. . . God does not Christians from their problems, He helps Christians through their problems. . . We need to struggle to stay alive . . .Out of struggle comes character development. . . Mountain climbers step back before they tackle a tough mountain. . . Would I rather live a life of ease and comfort and remain immature in Christ or am I willing to be seasoned with suffering if by doing so I am conformed to the image of Christ? . . All marriages rub shoulders with adversity. . . that is why we make the promise at the altar ‘till death do us part”. . . what does that mean if we never are tested in that area? . . . our demands of comfort and ease show us what we want from life. . . are you allowing coasting to shape you? . . A good marriage is not something you find, it is something you work for. . . it takes struggle. . . you must crucify your selfishness . . . you must at times confront and at other times confess. . . the practice of forgiveness is essential. . . Marriage is both a gift and task to be accomplished. . .He (Abraham Lincoln) shown brighter when his personal life was darkest (he was having marriage problems at the time when he delivered the Gettysburg Address). . . One of the greatest presidents was marrying to one of most difficult first ladies. . . You might be married to a difficult person or one day might be, remember, that it is in those difficult moments that your character will be developed in ways that no other person or situation could.