On June 6th, 43 days, we will witness a bride adorned for her husband. That bride,  Janelle Lynn Doe.  That husband, for whom she’s adorned herself, Kaleb Douglas.

Weddings are beautiful occasions to witness. We love to witness the love being shared between two vowing their love to each other. This wedding, between Janelle and Kaleb will be no exception because we know them, love them, have seen their relationship blossom.

The very first wedding had only the groom, the bride, and God. It was God the Father, who gave to the first man Adam, his wife, Eve. This, after Adam discovered that he had need for a companion that fits him.

So, what was Adam’s response to his new bride?

“This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 2:23

Marriage between a man and a woman was and is God’s idea.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

Marriage is an illustration of Jesus Christ and the Church, his bride, for whom Christ laid down his life to save her from her sins, to clothe her in his righteousness, and to make her his bride without spot or blemish.

Yes, marriage was God’s idea. Marriage between a man and woman is honorable.

Janelle, while your wedding is a one-day affair, your marriage will be a lifetime. You will have a lifetime of discovering all God designed for you in your marriage to Kaleb Douglas.

In your marriage, you will learn that God has wired the two of you differently. Women are generally more emotional, while men are more rational. I don’t know whether you have heard or read the book, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”, but you will discover and believe that to be true.

We are just different. Embrace your differences, and don’t lose heart if Kaleb happens to squeeze the toothpaste from the top, while you squeeze from the bottom, or a myriad of other quirks you will discover.

You are meant to complement one another. Proverbs 27:17 says:  “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

You’ll find that you won’t always agree. The late wife of Billy Graham, Mrs. Ruth Graham is known for saying: “If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.”  

Our differences can all be resolved in love because:

​“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices in truth. 7 Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7

In addition to that enduring love, the two of you both share One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you. Ephesians 4:5, 6

Janelle, you and Kaleb, will soon be one flesh. You two are blending your lives, and cultures as one. You will be Kaleb’s wife, his life partner, his cheerleader, his confidante, his prayer partner. You, Janelle are the one who will create and make your house a home. Make it a godly home, a  safe-haven, where you and your husband, Kaleb can take time to just enjoy one another.

Kaleb will be your husband, your leader, the head of your household, your provider, your protector.

You and Kaleb stand equally before God; but for the sake of order and God’s purposes, God has called the wife to submit to her husband. Even though, that concept is not so popular today, we know that God created everything with order, even our marriages. So it will be out of your reverence for Christ, you will submit to his leadership for your family.

Finally, Janelle, after the honeymoon is long over, and you are back to facing the real world, do things to keep the fire burning, because it is easy to get back into the grind of life. Keep it burning, write love notes, be generous with your love to Kaleb build him up with encouraging words, pray for him, if you work out, keep it up, and most of all, don’t neglect your private time in prayer and in the Word.

Janelle, we are here because we are rejoicing with you and Kaleb in the covenant you are about to make. Even after your wedding day, we will still be here praying that your marriage will be fruitful, that it will be a gospel witness to the world, that it will be God-honoring and sanctifying for each of you. 

May God bless your wedding day making it a glorious occasion, and may God bless your marriage.

 

Note: This was my first bridal shower devotional. I have since written two others, Bridal Shower Devotional for Jennifer and Bridal Shower Devotional For Ariel. The names and dates have been changed to respect privacy.