829: ANTICIPATING THE STORM
“When you are in the middle of a storm cloud it’s hard to think outside of it but the only way out of a storm is to ride through it and things will be a lot clearer on the other side.” —Jodi Ann Bickley
Stormy weather is inevitable—in life and in marriage. How you prepare for the storm often determines the outcome.
Of course, there will always be unknowns. But there are steps you can take today to safeguard your relationship from future storms.
The choice is yours. Will you take the time to prepare?
When a hurricane is approaching, you have to focus on the essentials: food, shelter, power, emergency supplies, and information.
Practically, here’s what that looks like in a storm:
- Food: What will sustain you for a long period of time?
- Shelter: Will you be protected from possible projectiles?
- Power: What can you secure for your basic energy needs?
- Emergency Supplies: What could improve a dire situation?
- Information: Who do you trust to tell you the truth?
Preparing for the storm makes you question lots of things.
Do we need more flashlights? What canned goods should we buy? Can we trust what the meteorologists say?
You learn to lean heavily on friends who have been through these storms before.
When you are facing a storm, you prepare as much as you can. Then, you wait to see what happens.
But what about the storms of marriage? Are you prepared?
Interestingly enough, your marriage needs the same five essentials to endure the storms of life.
First, you need food—something to sustain you. This includes the books, podcasts, and other marriage materials that you take in. They give you ideas and encouragement to keep going.
Second, you need shelter. When the storms of life come, your guardrails and flood walls will protect you. This means the two of you need to set clear boundaries and establish strong spiritual intimacy.
Third, what kind of power do you need when your marriage is going through a storm? It can be basic energy needs, such as sleep, exercise, or conversations.
Fourth, what emergency supplies can make a bad situation better? For you, this might include going on weekly dates or walk-and-talks.
Finally, what information do you need to guide you through storms in your marriage? Whether it’s marriage coaches, counselors, or mentor couples, you need people you can trust to tell it like it is.
These five aspects are essential to make your marriage storm-ready.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. You can find endless resources to help you navigate the storms when they come.
And if you’re in a strong community, you can find support from other couples who have faced the same storms before.
But don’t wait for the storm to come. Get prepared today. Even if you end up not facing the storm, you’ll be more confident and secure as a couple.
Resources
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