What to Do When You Feel Like Your Career Is Ruining Your Marriage - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - December 17

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What to Do When You Feel Like Your Career Is Ruining Your Marriage

By: Vivian Bricker

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Most people today have a career. Whether you are a male or a female, most of us have a steady career that we enjoy. Even though many women choose to become stay-at-home moms after getting married and having children, not all women have this privilege, and others simply enjoy their careers. Some men and women have noticed that their careers can have a negative impact on their marriages.

If this is true for your own marriage, know that there are many things you can do. Even though your marriage is suffering now, it does not mean you and your spouse will always be at odds with each other. By doing the proper work and making the necessary changes, you can restore your marriage. Ask the Lord for His help and start spending more time with Him in Bible reading and prayer.

By taking these steps, you will be more connected to Jesus. This, in turn, will positively impact your life in many ways. Cultivating our relationship with Jesus will enrich our lives and our marriages. Taking time to spend with the Lord each day in prayer will begin to transform us. If we were once an angry and short-tempered person, we can be transformed into a patient and level-headed individual.

All of this is only because of the Lord. While there are many steps we can take, all praise and glory belong to Jesus. He will help us as we walk through every season of life and mold us into the people He created us to be. However, we must listen to His instruction, guidance, and wisdom as found in the Bible.

Once we have developed a strong relationship with the Lord, it will naturally overflow into our marriage. If our career might be negatively impacting our marriage, we can start making the necessary changes to ensure our marriage is no longer struggling because of our career. Sadly, most married couples spend more time at work than they do together. It is even sadder that this is outside of both spouses’ control.

We need to remember this whenever we think our spouse is “choosing” their career over us. Your spouse married you because they love you. They are not married to their job, nor do they enjoy spending more time at the office than they do with you. Part of life involves working, and sometimes our jobs involve sacrifices. However, this doesn’t mean your marriage has to be ruined because of it.

Sit down with your spouse and share your feelings. Tell them how you are feeling about your own job or theirs. Having an open discussion can help both you and your spouse feel heard. It could be that your spouse is feeling the same way as you. Remember that your spouse is on the same team as you; even if they may not feel the same way, they will be able to work through this issue with you.

The Bible tells us, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). As this passage says, love is the greatest of all things. Faith and hope are extremely important, but nothing is greater than love. When discussing difficult matters with our spouse, we need to remember this. The love we have for our spouse and the love our spouse has for us is greater than we even know.

Therefore, through the love you and your spouse have for each other, you will be able to work through anything. This present struggle might be a roadblock, but it won’t destroy your marriage. Navigating jobs and careers can be a troublesome task, but as long as love is involved, there is nothing you and your spouse cannot overcome. Choose to rely on the Lord as you and your spouse are traveling through this season, and also remember that the Lord loves you both eternally, unconditionally, and immeasurably.

“Dear Jesus, my spouse and I have been having difficulty with our careers. At times, I feel as though my career is ruining our marriage, and at other times, I feel like my spouse’s career is harming our marriage. Please help us work through these issues with a heart of love. I love my spouse, they love me, and You love both of us. I trust that love can overcome any hardship. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Justin Paget

Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate.

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