“To them that have no might He increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:29
“My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3
Some of the things that God asks of us are easier said than done. His standard is so high! “Love ... as I have loved you” (John 15:12). “Submit ... as unto the Lord” (Eph. 5:22). “Reverence [your] husband” (Eph. 5:33). “In everything give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:18). Forgive “as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).
God does not ask us to do these things in our own strength. He gives us all the love, wisdom, and strength that we need to be a good wife. He does not give us any room to cop out; instead He gives us more grace (James 4:6). God would not have set up this pattern if He didn’t know it was best for us. “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love....These things I have spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:10-11). “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17). The happiness is a promise.
Here’s another promise that’s really important: “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Prov. 16:3 Emphasis added). The unconditional love, obedience, submission, respect, thanksgiving, and forgiveness that God asks of us are all acts of the will, not emotions. Love in a marriage does not get its source from hormones or emotional feelings. Notice that 1 Corinthians 13 describes specific acts, not fuzzy feelings. If we act with love, respect, and forgiveness, God will in time give us the thoughts and feelings that go along with our actions. What a fantastic blessing a Christian marriage is!