The Marriage Basket

Picture Credit: http://theoregontale.com/our-rockaway-beach-adventure/

Less than three months before our wedding, I lost my job. It was January 23, 2013, one week after I had moved out of my brother’s home and into the apartment that Adam and I would soon share. Losing my job was a devastating blow to our plans and to my personal security. I took pride in my income which would supplement Adam’s. I was eager to have three months in the apartment as a financially independent woman. Adam and I were paying for much of our wedding ourselves, so every dollar counted. I did not want to put more pressure on him than he already carried. Yet here I was, suddenly jobless and needing my future husband to provide for me already.

Knowing that I never particularly cared for this job, Adam often made a point to thank me for working there. He appreciated my desire to help financially. I appreciated that he appreciated that.

That solemn afternoon, I left my job one final time and headed for Adam’s parents’ home to lean on my future mother-in-law’s shoulder. As I drove, I could hardly see through my tears. Breaking this news to Adam was not something I wanted to do. The idea of putting more pressure on him when he was already under stress at work made me sadder than anything. In that moment it struck me that I could sulk or I could pray. I chose the latter.

With one hand on the wheel and the other lifted in the air, I began to speak to my King aloud. I thanked Him for His control, perfect plan, and provision. With a growing boldness, I first asked Him and then demanded of Him that Adam would be given a raise. “You are able Lord!” I prayed, “And I know you are willing! So do it! Give Adam a raise today! Please, give us this to increase our faith and know that You are working your plan out for us!” On and on I petitioned Him, begging Him to answer my prayer with a “yes”.

When I arrived at Adam’s house, I shared with his mom what had happened. She encouraged and comforted me. I told her about my prayer on the way over and we shared a giggle, noting how amazing it would be if God did what I asked. A little while later Adam came home. With my tears dried, I was determined to remain strong while breaking my bad news. As he walked up to me, I noticed that his demeanor was different. For several weeks prior he had been coming home completely drained after work. But today he had pep in his step. His eyes twinkled as he grinned playfully at me. My heart skipped a beat. “Could it be?” I wondered.

He wrapped me in a bear hug and told me he loved me. I asked him why he was in such a giddy mood to which he replied with another playful smile, “I just had a good day. That’s all.”

“Why?” I questioned.

He smiled again and said the words I had every hope he would say. 

“I got a raise today!”

Immediately the tears came pouring out. I buried my head in his shoulder, completely overcome with relief and amazement! My God had heard my pleas and done what I asked! Sobbing was not really the reaction Adam had expected. Confused, he assured me, “This is a good thing, Cait.”

Once I could speak, I explained it all to him. He sat down, taking it all in and now joining me in awe and amazement at our faithful Lord! We talked some more about the details of our days and discovered that it was the same time that I was driving home and praying that Adam was called into his boss’ office and given the good news. Perfect timing like that can only be orchestrated by our God who, as Ephesians 3:20 tells us, gives “far more abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think.”

Through this awesome experience our faith grew and our future marriage was strengthened. Our amazing God assured us that He was leading us, He was providing for us, and most comforting of all, He was with us.

Later I shared with my mom what had happened. She instructed us to put this experience of His faithfulness into our Marriage Basket. She explained that throughout our marriage we would go through highs and lows. Hardships would come in which we would face questions without the answers we want. In these times of spiritual dryness, she said we can reach into our Marriage Basket and remember the times when Christ was most undeniably faithful to us. In remembering these times, we will receive strength to press on in faith and expectancy of His marvelous leading in our lives.

It’s been over two years since we placed that first experience in our Marriage Basket. Since then we’ve both added some more experiences and, like my mom said, had to reach in for encouragement. Our Marriage Basket is for us, to inspire us and encourage us to deeper faith in the highs and the lows of life. Reaching into our Marriage Basket reminds us just how big our Lord is and how small our problems are when faced with Him. He is our ultimate Provider and our faithful Friend. He blesses us in His time and way for His glory and together with our Marriage Basket we get to be used to point each other back to Him.

“I will sing of the lovingkindess of the Lord forever; 

to all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.” 

– Psalm 89:1

Sanctified and Surrendered by Caitlin Marie Stacy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.