Feeling out of rhythm in your marriage? Try this.
In need of a workout routine, I quickly found out our new town of less than 3,000 did not have a gym. But what I did find was Jazzercise. It’s one of those workouts filled with friends, loud music, strength training, dance, and Pilates. If a girl had to sweat it out to say in shape this seemed like a fantastic way to do it. Despite having two left feet and being new to this type of work out, I went anyway.
The room was fuller than usual. It was January and everyone was still hanging onto their New Year’s resolutions. Nervous because of my two left feet, I murmured to the women next me, “Beware ladies, I am the most uncoordinated person on the planet.” One of them laughed and replied. “I think we all are uncoordinated. Just keep your eyes on the leader and you’ll be fine.”
The workout was in full swing when the instructor demonstrated a series of dance moves. Confused, I tried to keep up. And then I wondered if I made a mistake coming to class. I kept moving out of rhythm and bumping into everyone. I couldn’t figure out why it was so hard. Clearly there was something wrong me as I watched the women around me and attempted to copy them. Then the woman’s comment earlier rang in my head. Keep your eyes on the leader and you’ll be fine. I snapped my focus and attention back on the instructor. Before I knew it, I was back in rhythm and performing the dance moves flawlessly.
As I drove home I thought about this lesson I had learned about keeping my eyes on the leader. How often do we take our eyes off Jesus? Before we know it, we are out of step, out of rhythm and wondering why our marriage is out of sync. We compare. We size their issues up to ours. We compare husbands and find ours lacking.
We begin to think, “If only he would act like John, this would be better.” Steven Furtick once said that one reason we struggle with insecurity is because “we’re comparing our behind the scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel.” Think of it like an iceberg. We see the very tip of the iceberg above the water, but there is so much more below the surface of the water we can’t see. And here’s the real tragedy friends, the enemy will do everything possible to try and get you to take your eyes off Jesus. He will use the mundane. He will use anxiety, stress, and worry. He will use the irritation of bills, the lack of sleep of a new born. He will use comparison. He will use the examples of marriages around you.
God called us to keep our eyes on him. To keep our eyes on Christ. To avoid looking at what everyone else is doing, saying, being, or dancing.
One of the essential lessons for a believer is to know what to do in the marriage feels out of rhythm. The Bible teaches that the only way to rise above your circumstances is to put your focus on Jesus and keep your eyes on Him, no matter what you may be going through. You must depend on Him for everything. Just like keeping my eyes on my instructor, we keep our eyes steadfast on Christ.
In the New Testament Peter learned what happened when he took his eyes off Jesus. They had been in a boat all night fishing when Jesus appeared walking towards them on the water. Peter was so excited about the miraculous thing Jesus was doing that he wanted to join him.
Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come ahead.”
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”
Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down.
Like Peter, we begin to falter as we take our eyes off Jesus. Peter was bold enough to step out in faith in order to walk on the water, even in the midst of the storm raging around him.
As long as Peter kept his eyes on the Lord, he was able to do something that defied natural laws. He was walking in the supernatural, just like Jesus was! If we want to stay in rhythm, keep your eyes on the Instructor who happens to be the author and perfecter or your faith. He will lead you every step of the way.
