Where You Go, I Will Go (Marriage)
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
From The Warfighter's Study Bible
When we enter the covenant of Christian marriage, we commit to love and respect our husband or wife as long as we live, no matter the circumstances. This is not an easy vow, even under the best conditions, even for the strongest and healthiest marriages.
Marrying a military person, however, intensifies the challenges that marriage sometimes brings. Military marriage can entail lengthy separations during TDY or deployments-hard enough as newlyweds, but exponentially tougher once you have children. It might mean relocating to the ends of the earth-leaving family and support networks. It often involves starting over — repeatedly, sometimes with little notice. Moreover, the stresses of the military career itself can severely strain a marriage.
It is possible to stand by our military spouses side with joy and steadfastness. God blesses this kind of commitment for our good and his glory. Although the biblical example of Ruth's devotion to Naomi does not speak directly to marriage, Ruth provides a clear picture of commitment. "... where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you" (Ruth 1:16b-17).
After the tragic loss of each of their husbands, when Naomi urged her Moabite daughter-in-law to return to her own people—a very reasonable proposal —Ruth's response personifies the ideal heart of a strong military wife, a staunch resolution, before the Lord, that nothing but death should end their relationship. That same thought is included in many of the marriage vows taken today: "til death do us part."
Amid dire circumstances, God noticed Ruth's willingness to leave behind her country and her people. In his sovereignty, God used Ruth's steadfast commitment to bring redemption and restoration for both women, ultimately leading to the lineage of Christ. This same kind of commitment to our husband or wife is not just a grit-your-teeth and dutifully-plow-through attitude, but a deep-rooted heartfelt desire to joyfully stay by their side. Such commitment honors God. The Lord then can similarly transform this commitment into blessings we cannot imagine-both for the present and for future generations.
Military life can test the commitment of marriage. Ask God to help you have the steadfastness to follow your military spouse, when possible, wherever duty calls.
More Scripture for Further Study
Genesis 2:24
Ephesians 3:14-19
Ephesians 5:25
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