Marriage Blog
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Seasons of Marriage: God Is Still Writing Your Story
Every marriage has its seasons: the good, the bad and the ugly. There are blissful days full of laughter and long walks. There are hard days of heartache and broken promises. And there are ugly days when trust is shattered and the dream you started with seems out of reach. In this message, Terrie Beeman reminds husbands and wives that none of those seasons has to be wasted, because God is able to work all of it together for good.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
The message: God is still writing your story
Don't judge your marriage by what it looks like in the middle of the story. The enemy wants the bad and the ugly seasons to destroy your marriage, but God can use every one of them for His purpose. Don't rip out the pages, and don't toss the book aside because the story isn't turning out the way you thought it would. There is so much more to your story.
God is like a master chef
A master chef can take ingredients that seem like they don't belong together and turn them into something good. God does the same with your marriage. He takes the beautiful seasons, the laughter, the joy and the romance, and mixes them with the heartbreaks, the broken trust, the disappointments and the shattered dreams. Somehow, some way, only God can make it all work together for your good.
The good, the bad and the ugly
- The good seasons. Thank God for them. The joy, the friendship and the closeness are gifts worth celebrating and remembering.
- The bad seasons. They don't have to be wasted. God can teach you a whole lot through the difficult times: patience, humility and how to depend on Him together.
- The ugly seasons. Even the painful, ugly experiences in your marriage don't have to be wasted. God can bring healing, wisdom, maturity and a powerful testimony out of them.
Change the question you're asking God
When marriage gets rough, tough and challenging, it's natural to pray, "God, make this turn out the way I want it to." Terrie invites couples to make a powerful shift and ask a different question:
"Lord, how can You use this situation, this ugly situation, for Your purpose?"
That one change moves you from demanding an outcome to trusting the One who is working behind the scenes, even when you just don't see it yet.
What to do when you're in a bad or ugly season
- Don't give up and don't throw in the towel. The story isn't over, and starting over with someone else won't heal what God wants to heal in you.
- Spend time with God. Ask Him, "What is the purpose of this season we're in?"
- Sit still long enough to hear Him. He'll give you hope, and He may even give you a glimpse of what's on the other side of the trouble.
- Listen for His voice. The same still, small voice that guided Terrie through her own marriage battle will speak to you.
Terrie knows the ugly seasons, too
Terrie's own marriage went through the good, the bad and the ugly, including the day her husband said he no longer wanted to be married. Through a 365-day battle of prayer and spiritual warfare, God restored their marriage, now 34 years strong. Read Terrie's story.
You don't have to walk through this season alone
- Join the free Tuesday marriage prayer and fasting call on Zoom every Tuesday at 6:00 PM CT.
- Pray the Break the Curse declarations over your marriage.
- Learn how to fight for your marriage without fighting your spouse.
- Book Christian marriage coaching with Terrie for help in a hard season.
Be encouraged. God is able to do what only He can do through the good, the bad and the ugly seasons of your marriage.