Today, Kurtis & I celebrate four years of marriage. I love this engagement photo of ours. The joy on our faces is unmistakeable, just weeks away from saying “I do.”
To be perfectly transparent, I would not use the word “joy” to describe most of year four of marriage. This year saw us pass 2.5 years of trying to start a family, with no results yet. That journey deserves its own post (I’ve written multiple ones but haven’t been able to share them yet), but just know that it’s been a tough year.
However, year four has still had its own special and fun moments. I released my first book, we started renovating a house with my in-laws, and our road trips this year took our overall total trip miles since 2012 close to 10,000!
As we head into our fifth year of marriage, my prayer is that it will be characterized by one word: joy.
Have you been in need of joy? You aren’t alone. Even King David, a man after God’s own heart cried out for God to “restore the joy of his salvation.” (Psalm 51)
Already that restoration of joy has started for us. In the last two weeks, God has miraculously opened up the doors to adopt the most perfect dog, and to purchase a (new to us) house to move into after the first of the year. Love & excitement are already soothing and healing our hearts.
I don’t know what else year five will hold, but I do know God is an overflowing source of joy, and he won’t fail to fill us. I’m not sure if many people noticed at the time or remember now, but on our wedding invitations, I added a scripture on the back.
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3
This verse had been meaningful to me for a long time, especially around the time we got married, because God’s movements in our lives were so evident. It was a harvest time, reaping fruit that had been sown a long time ago, in relationships, in careers, in desires.
From that bountiful season of harvest, we moved into a sowing season. Which is only natural, right? We’ve been in a long season of sowing, trusting and waiting. Of waiting for God to bring about fruit once more. Of waiting for him to move. That doesn’t give us any less reason to rejoice, trust, or praise. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say we were weary. For those of you in such a season: hold on to God, and don’t give in to fear, sorrow, or anxiety. Stay faithful during your sowing season. The harvest is coming.
What season are you in? What word characterizes your marriage right now? What do you desire to see the Lord change in the next year? Our God is a God who restores. He restores hope, peace, joy…you name it, he can restore it. Tell God what you need for him to restore, and I promise you, he is already at work behind the scenes.
Year five, here we come. Ready to be overwhelmed with joy.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
