Wives go through a lot of troubles.
They take care of their husbands and kids, juggle home and work, deal with budgeting and maintaining good relations with the in-laws, all while maintaining a devoted church life. Here's how they can face all of that with joyful expectation.
Now what will help wives face all of that? Aside from God's grace and love, as well as love from their husbands and children, there's what we call "hope."
Why hope?
Hope is a very powerful thing, and every Christian wife should have it. Hoping in the right things will help you keep going forward even when times get rough.
Webster's 1828 dictionary defines hope as "[a] desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable."
Some might think of hope as merely a wish or a desire for something good, but it's more than that. Webster continues,
"Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety."
Romans 5:1-5 tells us that because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done, we have hope that never fails:
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Because hope brings joy, and because God never fails, we can always hope in Him so that we will never grow weary.
Hope in action
Dear wives, here are a few things you should hope for whenever you're faced with problems, setbacks, and trials.
1) Problems with marriage
Ladies, God loves to be in the center of the marriage so that He can lead both you and your husband according to His pleasure.
If you have problems with your husband, pray to God for him. Search the Scriptures for instructions and comfort, but don't use God's Word as a whip to hit him. Instead, keep praying and ask God for help.
2) Problems with family
The Bible is clear in this, that children are a blessing from the Lord. If you have problems raising children, the Bible has a lot of instruction regarding that.
If you have problems with grown-up children, or with your in-laws and relatives, the Bible still has some instruction regarding that. You should read passages focused on unconditional love and serving, and importantly also pray so God can help you manage these things; Psalm 55:22 tells us,
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."
3) Problems with finances
Here's probably the biggest problem many people have.
Some marriages end because the husband and the wife have issues with money. It's either they're poor, have problems with spending, keep financially-related secrets, or treat one another differently according to the money they bring into the marriage.
That's wrong. Money should never be the center of the marriage.
God should be.
Matthew 6:24 holds true, even in marriage:
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
