Reality Check

"God is most glorified in me, when I am most satisfied in Him"

-John Piper-

This morning I watched a video on John Piper's Desiring God blog about a young couple who chose to get married, despite the fact that one of them was severely mentally disabled due to a car accident. Their names are Ian and Larissa. The couple began dating in college and had big plans for a wonderful life spent together. They planned on being married in the near future. But before a ring was bought, Ian was in a nearly fatal car accident, throwing the couple into a life they had never imagined. My heart ached for them as I watched their video online. As the tears rolled down my cheek, I felt so stupid and so selfish for placing all the demands on my own husband to live up to what "I need".  Today's culture (in and outside of the church) has placed so much value on personal happiness; as if it is all that matters. But when you're in a marriage, the truth is, your own personal happiness has much less value than popular culture would have you believe. Marriage is not all about the wife's happiness nor is it all about the husband's. Really, a God-honoring marriage is not about the couple at all. It is about God. It is to bring Him glory and to be the picture of His love to the world. This story this morning was just such a wonderful reminder that my satisfaction needs to be found in Christ. Not in my marriage. And it has challenged me to take a closer look at my relationship with my husband. Do we seek to honor Christ by loving and serving each other? Or are we primarily focused on our own happiness. Reality Check.

In a post written by Larissa about why they chose to be married, she says, "...it was simple. We love each other. And we love God. And we believe that He is sovereign and loving and in control of all things....I still don't think Ian would have ever left me if the roles had been reversed. And walking away from my best friend was never truly an option." 
What an amazing testimony!

Watch their video here: Ian & Larissa