That's what the promise is for . . .

Source

Andrew Peterson, a singer and songwriter, visited our church in Colorado off and on during my years growing up there. I thought it was so neat when I found him on Spotify and caught up on all his music I haven't heard in years.  A new song really caught my attention, however, called "Dancing in the Minefields."  Its lyrics having been playing over in my head these last few days. In a world that views marriage as temporary and promises as contingent on one's feelings, this song's message was a refreshing and encouraging reminder of the sacredness of marriage. 

Andrew Peterson's message says that marriage will be tough - you'll go through storms and minefields - but that 's the reason why you promised each other "until death do you part." Why do we publicly commit to love, honor, and cherish each other if not to have each other's solemn promise to do just that? Wedding vows are there to state that life holds many beautiful joys to share, but also many hardships.  You vow to weather those hardships together. That's what the promise is for. 

And when the promises you made to each other seem like they might not be enough, God says His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9) and that He has granted to us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). God never goes back on His promises and He promises to help us keep ours.  He is always faithful to provide us the grace we need to overcome the temptation to go back on the vows once made to each other on a wedding day. 

And even more amazingly, God uses both the easy and hard times of marriage to help shape us to be more like Him. Marriage is truly a most beautiful vessel of learning faithfulness, perseverance, patience, trust, and (its seems most of all) selflessness. Though it might be hard to be thankful for the storms and minefields you'll encounter in marriage, by God's grace you can persevere through them. And when you have weathered the storm you can look back on an old you and praise God for the gift of a marriage more closely tied to Him. 

I hope you, too, can be encouraged by Andrew Peterson's song. I love his music video, but I would encourage you to also simply read the lyrics. What a powerful thing God's grace is to save us from ourselves and to enable us to love like He loves us. 

"Dancing in the Minefields" by Andrew Peterson

Well I was 19, you were 21
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago.

We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storms
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe thats what the promise is for

Well "I do" are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I've heard is a good place to begin
'Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price for the life that we have found

So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose loves chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith to the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me

'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there's nothing left to fear
So I'll walk with you through the shadow lands
Til the shadows disappear
'Cause He promised not leave us 
And His promises are true
So in the face of this chaos baby,
I can dance with you

So lets go dancing in the minefields
Lets go sailing in the storms
Oh, lets go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors
Oh, lets go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh, this is harder than we dreamed
But that's what the promise is for
That's what the promise is for