Walking with Christ is not always about the profound, obvious moments. Walking with Christ is often the small, quiet moments that we miss, by looking for His hand elsewhere. In life, we, as His people, seek to find purpose. We are longing to find His hand in the places we seek, but what if we are missing our purpose, overlooking calling, losing sight of the whole point because the simplicity of His voice disqualifies the unattainable, perfect standards of worldly Christianity?
My name is Alyssa Lawson and I am honored to write for God Styled Life in this Faith and Family space. I am a young wife, with a heart for motherhood and building my family on the solid, rock Foundation. As I continue on my journey through life and adulthood, I have discovered how quickly the chaos of the everyday and the overwhelming happenings in the mundane can fog our spiritual glasses. While any spiritually grounded individual can recognize that busyness and chaos is a tactic of the enemy, it doesn’t make them any less present in daily life. While I am far from an expert, this is one field I seem to be becoming very experienced in – that is, the field of practicing the act of choosing Jesus over it all. Life, especially life with a family or growing family, isn’t about perfection. It is not about the perception of having it all in place. It is all about going through all the chaos, the joy, the quiet, the loud, the questions, the frustrations, and still choosing Jesus. This choice builds a home on grace. This choice builds a family on love. This choice is faith being lived out in actions and constant belief in His will over our lives, not on the circumstances.
This Faith and Family space is not a mirror, but rather a transparent window. Between the joy on mountaintops and the mundane valley lows, this space is about Biblical truth, honest encouragement, and not just reflection, but transparency. As disciples, we are in this walk together. Joshua 24:15 reflects the cry of my heart for my family. Above all else, in the face of any circumstance, me and my house – we will serve the Lord. This is a calling on our homes, on our families. Faith forms as the bridge between circumstance and promise. Family is the bond that holds us together in the in between. I pray this space fills you with joy, comfort, and hope. I am honored and grateful to walk this journey with you.
Marriage was the turning point in my faith and walk with Christ. My role as a follower of Jesus became bigger than myself. I fully understood, at the time of communion in our wedding ceremony, that I was building a covenant with the Lord to love this man and to put only Christ before Him. That same day, on our ride to our honeymoon, immediately following our reception, God met me where I was, but gave me purpose and direction as to where I was going. There was a new, forever calling on my life to exemplify the sacrificial, reckless, graceful love that I have been so graciously given from Christ, to my husband. It is as serious as life or death – the love, or lack thereof, I pour into him I will have to answer for. It is my calling and purpose to be his wife. Beyond that, my purpose and calling will be to love our children in the same way. In preparation for the day I have children, I must understand the importance of marriage and the commandment of Ecclesiastes 4:12 – one will be overcome, two can resist the enemy, but a cord of three strands is not easily broken.
When reflecting on the depth and recklessness of Christ’s love, it is no questionable matter as to the standard we, as His followers, are called to discover and project onto others. As a young follower, I understood love as a command and calling, rather than a feeling. This foundational truth became the backbone to my role as a wife. Before that title became one I carried, I understood the significance of purpose in loving as Christ loves the church, as talked about in Ephesians. As a young wife, I understand the importance of loving my husband purposefully and in a way that honors Christ. Marriage is purposeful, not perfect. Christ laid out the blueprint for a three-stranded marriage, painting the image of selfless love, service, grace, and forgiveness. 1 Corinthians 13 is a beautiful passage to reference when digging into how to love your spouse better or properly love others.
The passage tells us that “love is patient and kind.” Patience is absolutely crucial in a Christ-centered marriage and patience often begins, in my world, by slowing down and reflecting, rather than reacting. If one creates mental, unattainable expectations, it can build unnecessary resentment. We are instructed to love with patience and kindness – which means communication must be driven by an effort to understand, rather than an expectation to be met. Reflect before reaction. As a wife, making the effort to seek understanding promotes the truth of Christ’s love. My husband, in return, can reflect the love he is given. Heart posture is so important when loving your spouse well.
1 Corinthians also speaks of love that is not self seeking, which calls us to love sacrificially. Oftentimes, serving your spouse reveals the selfishness we’re unaware of. God can and will refine us into better spouses and spiritual servants through marriage, itself. We must allow Him into it, as our third strand. When loving my husband as Christ loves the church, I must consider his needs, stresses, strengths, and even his calling. Christ’s love for us is considerate and recklessly graceful and boundless. Considering that in how I love and serve my husband reflects that standard in marriage that God has set. It’s not always perfect, and claiming to be perfect at it would be false. I often find myself in prayer, asking for blessing and protection over my husband. If I, his wife, am not in consistent prayer over him and his walk, calling, purpose, strength… who is?
We are called, as husband and wife, to rejoice in truth and remain committed to the covenant we established. It’s as much a spiritual partnership, as it is anything else. Honest communication must drive your efforts in growth. Your marriage becomes sanctifying when communication, prayer, and honesty remain as a foundational value. Supporting your husband’s walk is the calling on us, as wives. He is called to lead, we, in turn, are the heart and support – and we must allow him to lead and sharpen our walk with God, as well.
We must love and give, as Christ has done for us. Marriage is the direct reflection of Christ and the church. Take this as encouragement! I, myself, am still learning and growing, but since grounding my calling as a wife in Christ, I have learned it is possible to love like Him, THROUGH Him. Marriage is more than just love and service, it is worship. We, as wives, are called into this and He equips us with this love for our spouse and family. Chase after the Lord and seek His face in your walk, only then will true purpose be found in your life, as the heart of your family.
God-Styled Life with Maggie P 