Every day, many Christians come into the beautiful blessing that is marriage but don't really know what to expect. Others come in expecting the wrong things, only to be slightly or even sometimes extremely disappointed with the reality.
Marriage is simple—it simply asks us to depend on God's grace since we know and believe that He is the one who calls a man and a woman to walk together and fulfil His purpose for them.
But it doesn't mean that since it's simple it's going to be easy. What makes marriage a whole lot easier is knowing what to expect.
Here are five misconceptions that many single Christians, and sadly even some married Christians, have about marriage.
Readiness is determined by your bank account
We've all heard it before from our parents, mentors and even in-laws-to-be: "If you can't feed the family yet, you're not ready for marriage." But I've witnessed so many marriages with a good financial base still fail, while other marriages where money is tough, persevere.
That's because, as beneficial and helpful as a good amount of savings are, the true test of financial readiness is not the size of your bank account but whether you truly understand who your source is. When we know Jesus is our source—not our bank accounts, jobs or even spouses—we're in a better position.
Spouses will always reciprocate each other
You may have thought that it should be automatic that spouses will always reciprocate each other's efforts so that you don't get burnt out. But then the husband forgets you washed the dishes last night and left you with another pile tonight.
While we must fight to always reciprocate each other's efforts, it is ultimately God who satisfies and saves us from burn-out, not your spouse. Our efforts are merely an outflow of the joy and gladness we receive from the Holy Spirit to serve.
You grow together naturally
So you thought you'd just wake up one day and find it fine that the dirty laundry is all over the floor. Well, it takes more than just that to make a marriage work. Communication is just as important as acceptance. Couples must be ready to express, but also hold back on repercussions once clarity becomes hurtful.
Knowing God's commands is enough
It's not enough to know God's commands given on marriage and life. As a couple, we must practice and obey God's commands, not just for our spouses' sake, but for ours as well.
Expertise is the foundation
You've read all the marriage and parenting books there are, but you're still struggling. That's because marriage is not dependent on your knowledge or expertise, but solely and firmly on the grace of God. God is the one who sustains our marriages even when we make mistakes. 2 Corinthians 12:9a says, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"
