Last night, I was blessed to witness the wedding of a very young couple. As I watched the ceremony, I watched them transition from the security of their childhood homes into a very big world together. I kept thinking of how much they have yet to learn about each other… though the bride seemed to  learn a few more of the groom’s secrets after an embarrassing toast (or should I say roast) by his best man.  My guess is that like many couples, both bride and groom were diligent to put the best foot forward during the dating period.

After 15 years of marriage, my wife knows me better than anyone else on the planet… and, shockingly, her love for me does not waver. Yes, I said shockingly, because we’re beyond only seeing each other’s “best foot.” She’s been exposed to my weaknesses, my fears, my insecurities, my failures and, scariest of all, my appearance in the morning. It’s because of this that I have a greater appreciation for why marriage is referred to as the “grace of life” (1 Peter 1:7.) There are many times that I don’t deserve her love.

But what is really amazing — actually, more like, absolutely astounding — the Bible says that Christ knows us infinitely more than our spouse is even capable of (Psalm 139:1-18). We’re talking every possible detail here, including thoughts and motives! And despite all that, He loves us so much that it’s beyond our comprehension (Ephesians 3:18-19). WOW! That’s a thought we should be carrying around with us all day every day.

So join me in thinking about this the next time you’re irritated by your spouse, when your expectations haven’t been met and you’re struggling to express love (like when her cell phone is dead… again. Or when he’s on his phone… again).  The bottom line is that you and I haven’t given our Lord and Savior any reason to love us (Isaiah 64:6), but that didn’t stop Him.

And it never will…

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord – Romans 8:38-39