Career strain on your marriage?

19 years ago, my husband was working 7 days a week. In Church ministry, most staff members get their off days on Mondays. There are too many preparations for ministry on Saturday so it has to be a work day. So while the rest of us were off on Monday, my husband had counseling sessions and had to work on Monday to make sure all was well in his department before office opens again on Tuesday. We were newly married and had no time together except in the evenings and as you know, that is also not always guaranteed. What many people do when this happens, is to conclude that it is their fate. “The will of God”. That they should be at least grateful that they have jobs.

We desired time together and so we wrote a petition to God to help us have time together. At least an off day where we could do what normal couples do; go shopping, go visiting, go for outings or just relax at home together. Our attitude has always been that you don’t have to choose between one or the other when it comes to God’s blessings. You can have all that you desire. One blessing does not have to negate the other. Good jobs or businesses do not have to negate life or time together. It’s up to you. What do you believe for?

So we wrote the petition, prayed, signed it and dated it [you might need to learn about the prayer of petition]. From then on, we would diligently just thank God in faith. As I write today, we spend EVERYDAY together. It began by him being given that Monday officially off and eventually, when we began ministry, we had everyday together. It’s been so for the past 17 years. We are ministers and we run business together. We have been re-paid for the time that we lost; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.  Forget those who tell you that spouses cannot work together. That it’s too stifling. I loooove working with him. To date, even when he has to go out often and work late, I still miss him. Why? Coz I really enjoy his company. I married my best friend. God answered our prayer and for that, we are forever grateful. We are truly blessed, but make no mistake, it didn’t just fall on our laps. We had to push for it in faith and prayer. We’ve had to close our minds to impossibility and keep believing that it was possible.

I’m writing this to encourage you. Ask God for what you want. Don’t settle for living in different towns, different nations or barely having time together. You don’t have to choose one or the other. Ask God for favour, ask God for wisdom, ask God for transfers, ask God for business ideas. He will help you. He wants to help you. He designed for married people to do life together and that involves living together and having time to spend with each other. Only believe!

Barikiweni. Have a lovely week.