Marriage Mondays ~ Run off the snowy road

Saturday Jeff and I took the kids to the mountains. The Jeep was loaded with sleds, hot chocolate, and winter gear. We wondered if there would be enough snow remaining, but when we turned onto the mountain road, it was like we had stepped into Narnia. A white wonderland stretched out before us, with tire tracks in about a foot of snow. Confident in my northern hubby's snow driving skills and our 4 wheel drive, I was only slightly nervous, but hardly scared. I felt secure.

Imagine our surprise when a large red pick up truck, with windows down, met us on a curve, but wouldn't move over! As our Jeep hugged the edge, we felt ourselves sliding backwards towards a steep ravine. We honked and yelled, trying to get the attention & help of the truck, but it disappeared around the snowy bend. I could tell by Jeff's reaction it was serious, and once we stopped, he commanded me to get everyone out of the safe side of the car, while he held steady. The two of us shifted into crisis mode.

We all worked to avert disaster, digging away the snow, creating traction with large rocks, laying down floor mats, and ... praying.  I knew Jeff had one attempt to make it safely off of the edge. He sent us safely up the hill, away from the Jeep, and I stood there playing out scenarios in my mind and praying.

Before the truck forced us over, we were feeling so secure, so relaxed, so happy, so excited. Sometimes it's the other drivers on the road that leave us spinning on the edge of disaster.

Satan loves it when he can hurl someone past us, close enough to take us from confidence to calamity.

There are sweet times in married life when we are well stocked, at ease, feeling secure, and trusting one another, but other people on the road of life may hurl past us and leave our marriage spinning on the edge of disaster. It might be a family member, a co-worker, an old relationship, or an internet contact. We have to be on guard at all times and be ready to stand firm.

God's hand lifted that sliding back tire and pushed us away from the precipice and sure disaster. We cheered, we thanked, we breathed deep.  We admitted to each other later that it had taken us totally by surprise and scared us to death. As we drove on up the mountain, we discovered another family in a ditch up against the mountain; they were waiting on a tow truck ... they had been run off the road by the same large red pick up truck whizzing past them. Another casualty from our common enemy.

  

How can you avoid your marriage being a roadside wreck? Take a lesson from driving in snow ...

1. Prepare ahead of time ... not a shovel and flares, but prayer, intimacy, and a church family.
2. Don't think being in a beautiful place means you aren't vulnerable to evil around you.
3. If you feel yourself starting to slide one way, turn the other direction! Get out of there.
4. Sliding?  Honk loud and let people know you need help.
5. Don't let your kids stand in the danger zone while you work things out ... they can get hurt.
6. A calamity is not the time to separate, abandon each other, or blame.
7. In a dangerous position? Get dirty and work hard; do everything possible to save your marriage.
8. Stand firm. You're driving together; don't let anyone push you off course.
9. Listen to people who have been stuck, but are now safe & sound ... they probably have good advice.
10. Pray.  It works with snow and marriage. :)

The evil truck didn't destroy us. We made it up the mountain to enjoy an amazing afternoon and then to return safely home by a different route. God wants our marriages to be strong and stand firm against the attacks of the evil one.

1 Cor. 10:11-13

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

If you're sliding, today is the day to get help. Stand firm friends. I'm praying our marriage relationships will be on solid ground this week!