Our cruise ship is navigating its way east across the Gulf of Alaska today, two days earlier than scheduled, to avoid a huge storm that is supposed to hit Anchorage. We were scheduled to stop at Homer and Kodiak, locations south of Anchorage, with some special wildlife excursions promised, but that’s all not going to happen now. Some people are disappointed. But I’m alright about it.
All good comes from God and keeps on coming no matter how messed up plans are at times. If it doesn’t come in one form it will come in another, and we’ll see it if we stay open to it.
However, if we get disappointed, distraught, or angry, our mind shuts down to receiving God’s goodness, and we miss out on the progressive blessing. So, it’s critical to keep a spiritually inspired point of view, to remember the omnipresence of God’s good, and not accept lack or loss as permanent.
This rule certainly applies to marriage.
Human plans often get messed up. There is nothing certain about them.
Spouses often go into marriage with specific expectations about their partner, and then later discover that their partner never had those expectations at all! Feelings get hurt. Hearts crushed. Hopes dashed. But there is good to come out of it. Many lessons can be learned and gained that make one a better person in the long run.
It’s much safer to put trust in God’s direction for our lives than in our personal sense of what we think should happen for us to be happy.
Number one, experience teaches to not trust personal sense.
Personal sense (one’s personal view) can get it all wrong. Personal sense can be convinced that it was right only to learn that it was dead wrong. Personal sense is prone to self-righteousness, which amounts to dense blindness. Personal sense can feel like a safe place to be, only to learn later, it was the most dangerous place to be. Personal sense is not reliable. It does not size situations up accurately. It does not get the facts straight. It is generally a very one-sided, limited, and often short-sighted view of what is possible or actually happening.
The wiser way is to trust God and follow spiritual sense, not personal sense. Both husband and wife will end up much happier!
Getting closer…
Another reason why divorce is more rampart now is because of expectations unrealistic. Mortal relationships will always have it’s ups and downs only because that’s what mortal relations is. Mothers and daughters have disagreements, but they love each other. Fathers and sons, likewise and that’s okay. The problem arises in marriage when spouses think or believe that everything will be rosy, dosey. As said; TAINT TRUE.
Evan — this has been a thought-provoking, healing, light-providing and enjoyable series. thank you so very much. It’s a blessing to me and, I’m sure, many others. And I so grateful that you were willing to be this open about your own experience.
Evan, it certainly is true that it’s very easy to get disappointed and distraught and hearts Definately
Do get crushed . Personal sense does get the facts
Wrong and it is only God that knows the inner most heart. Regardless of disappointments etc. what seems so special about marriage is that you go through it together. There is so much to be shared from small things like a sunset to large things like trust. Had a wonderful surprise the other night. My sensor light went on outside so I got up and saw the most wonderful creature, a young buck. He was looking slim and powerful and his big brown eyes were vary alert and his ears were twitching extremely alert as well. His antlers were cute a small version of the grandieur to come, of the bravery and strength of character. As I stood there enjoying this wonderful site I couldn’t help thinking how much better it would be if shared with someone. I’m a big fan of solitude always have been however life is meant to be shared and marriage seems the perfect prize for those who want to share the depth that only it can bring.
I must add my appreciation for your Blessings of Marriage posts. My husband and I will soon celebrate our 41st wedding anniversary. Your thoughts have given me lots to ponder and have served as a sort of “renewal of our wedding vows” for me. A freshening up and spiritualizing of my thoughts towards our marriage that I wasn’t aware I needed!
Additionally I thank you for sharing your Alaska Adventure. We did the cruise and inland tour last year, but must have been on a different cruise line, as our experience was very different from yours. I am thrilled that you and Kathy were able to experience this wonderful state.
P.S. You are a great photographer!!