You’re Only Married for a Minute By: Betsy St. Amant Haddox
For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. - Isaiah 54:5
In the grand scope of eternity, it turns out we’re only married for a minute. But when the arguments stretch past midnight, when financial stress weighs you down, and when yet another pair of dirty socks are taunting you from the bedroom floor, it can certainly feel longer!
Other times, however, the thought of the brevity of marriage is more sobering—like when romance is in full bloom and your spouse brought home “just because” flowers and you’re snuggled up with popcorn and a movie. Then, the idea of not being married in heaven feels a little disjointing—even sad!
Regardless of whether the thought of a brief marriage brings you relief or disappointment, it’s a fact.
Matthew 22:28-30 tells us:“In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
In heaven, we won’t be married as we are on earth. We will, in a different sense, be married to Christ. The entire Bible is rich with the allegory of Christ and His Bride. Earthly marriage is only a mere reflection of the relationship between Jesus and the church. That’s why Satan attacks marriage so consistently—he hates what Christ loves, and desires to distort what God-ordained.
Knowing that, doesn’t it seem silly to argue over petty things? Yikes! We’re truly only married for a minute.
Isaiah tells us that the Lord, our Maker—our Creator—is our husband. This is important, because in the culture when this was written, an unmarried woman was in serious danger. She didn’t have anyone to cover her, protect her, or provide for her. It was a big deal to be a widow or to be abandoned in that day. That’s part of the beauty of Boaz being the kinsman-redeemer for Ruth. He stepped in to restore her. He took on a role he didn’t have to out of sacrificial love.
Sound familiar?
When I was going through an unwanted divorce, Isaiah 54:5 was an extreme comfort to me. It made me realize that I wasn’t alone, even if I’d been abandoned by my earthly husband. The Lord was my Redeemer, my Restorer, and my Provider. Now that I’m remarried to a godly man, this verse is still a comfort to me, because those things about Christ are still true. He continues to redeem, restore and provide for me daily. At the end of the day, my marriage is important, but my relationship with Christ is more so.
Whether you’re single, divorced, married, or remarried, the Lord your Maker is your husband. If you’re hoping to marry in the future, you can take heart in knowing you already have a Husband, one who will never fail you. If you’re in a lonely marriage right now, you have a Husband who never leaves you. If you’re in a healthy, thriving marriage, you still have a Husband who fulfills you in ways your earthly spouse never could.
One day, your marital status on Earth won’t matter in the least, and you’ll be fully complete in the One who created you.
Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of fifteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her drummer of a hubby, two story-telling young daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of pickle chips. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she's not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white-chocolate mocha. Look for her latest novel with HarperCollins, LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES, and POCKET PRAYERS FOR FRIENDS with Max Lucado. Visit her at https://betsystamant.com/.
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