The State of Marriage Today

I sometimes find myself in tears when I think about the state of marriage today. Values are shifting, vows are breaking, and many are left wondering if the covenant still matters. As someone who was once married, I carry both the beauty and the ache of marriage deep in my soul.

Though I no longer wear a wedding ring, I still believe in the sacredness of marriage. My journey may look different now, but God’s truth hasn’t changed. His Word remains the surest place for hope and healing.

When Marriage Feels Confusing in Today’s World

The world today offers endless voices—many telling us to prioritize ourselves above all else. Some days, I wrestled with those messages, wondering if maybe the Bible’s view was too outdated. But chasing worldly advice only deepened my confusion.

One night I cried out, “Father, I’m lost. Show me Your truth about marriage.” And in His gentle way, God reminded me: “Return to My Word, My daughter.” That moment changed everything.

The Wisdom of Godly Mentors

God never meant for us to walk alone. Titus 2:3–5 clearly outlines His plan for older women to guide and teach the younger ones:

"Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children… to be self-controlled and pure… and to be subject to their husbands." – Titus 2:4–5

I thank God for the older women He placed in my life—mentors who had lived through storms and come out stronger. Their counsel became a lifeline for me when I needed wisdom the most.

God’s Design for Wives and Husbands

I once struggled with the idea of submission. But reading Ephesians 5:22–25 again brought clarity:

"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord… Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

It’s not about dominance—it’s about divine order. God calls husbands to lead with love and sacrifice, and wives to trust and support. It’s a circle of grace, not a chain of command.

Supporting Your Husband’s Vision

One powerful truth I’ve learned: every husband has a God-given vision. It may not look like yours—or mine—but it matters. My mistake was comparing. But God gently showed me that supporting my husband’s vision was a calling, not a compromise.

Like Noah’s wife, who stood by him faithfully for 120 years, your faith can fuel your husband’s faith.

Practical ways to support his vision:

• Pray for him daily and ask God for wisdom.
• Speak life into his dreams—be his biggest encourager.
• Offer your unique gifts and strengths as a teammate.
• Be patient—God’s timing is perfect.
• Celebrate progress, even the small wins.

Rejecting the World’s Lies

Our culture often feeds us harmful messages:

• Lie: “If marriage doesn’t make you happy, walk away.”
  Truth: “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” – Matthew 19:6
• Lie: “You come first.”
  Truth: “Love is not self-seeking.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5
• Lie: “Submission is weakness.”
  Truth: Jesus submitted to the Father in perfect strength.

Let God’s Word be your compass. His design may be countercultural, but it leads to life, peace, and joy.

Marriage as Ministry

I now see marriage not just as companionship, but as ministry. Whether in marriage or reflecting on it from the outside, I’ve learned this: our homes are mission fields, and our love stories can glorify God.

"She is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant." – Malachi 2:14

Your faithfulness in marriage—past, present, or future—can impact generations. God sees it all, and nothing is wasted.

Trusting God’s Perfect Design

If you’ve been discouraged, dear sister, know this: God is not done with you. Your story matters. Your marriage—whether thriving, ended, or still hoped for—is part of a greater plan.

Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight."

Keep sowing seeds of faith and obedience. Galatians 6:9 promises that in due season, you will reap a harvest if you do not give up.

A Final Encouragement

To every woman reading this—whether you’re married, single, divorced, or widowed—you are not alone. God sees you. He hears your prayers. He redeems all things.

Stand on His truth. Love courageously. And know that your faithfulness, even in broken places, brings joy to the heart of God.

Summer is here—and so is a new opportunity to grow in God's Word. The Jesus Bible Foundation is excited to release the June 2025 editions of our best-selling Free Daily Devotional series. Whether you're a woman, a teen, or a believer eager to deepen your faith, we have a devotional to meet you where you are.

🌸 Women’s Free Daily Devotional – June 2025

For women who want to grow in grace, wisdom, and spiritual strength, this 30-day devotional brings daily Scripture, powerful reflections, and heartfelt prayers for everyday life.

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✨ Free Daily Devotional – General Edition

Start each day grounded in faith with this 30-day devotional perfect for men and women alike. It offers daily encouragement for spiritual growth, obedience, and biblical leadership.

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💪 Teen Boys’ Free Daily Devotional – June 2025

This devotional equips teen boys with biblical truth, identity, and courage to follow Christ boldly in a confused world.

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💖 Teen Girls’ Free Daily Devotional – June 2025

Empowering teen girls to walk in confidence, truth, and grace with this 30-day devotional rooted in God’s Word and love.

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🔔 Start Your June With Jesus

At Jesus Bible Foundation, our mission is to equip you for daily encounters with God through Scripture, prayer, and spiritual reflection. Each of these June devotionals is completely free, easy to access, and rooted in biblical truth. Perfect for quiet times, small groups, or family devotions.

Share these resources with your church, your friends, or your family—and let’s grow in grace together this summer.

In the game of chess, the King is the most important piece. When he is surrounded with no escape, the game ends in checkmate. But what if that checkmate… isn’t the end?

A Painting and a Revelation

There’s a legendary painting once displayed in the Louvre Museum titled Checkmate. It shows a man playing chess against Satan. The man appears defeated, his head down, while Satan smiles, convinced the soul before him is lost.

Yet, when chess master Paul Morphy studied the board in the painting, he exclaimed, “The painting is wrong! The King still has one more move!”

Our Spiritual Battle

Each day, we face battles not just on a board but in our hearts and minds. We’re attacked by fear, doubt, temptation, and discouragement. The enemy moves, and we try to respond. But sometimes, we feel like it’s over. We’re cornered. Checkmate.

That’s when we must remember this eternal truth: Jesus Christ—our King—still has one more move.

The Master of Every Game

Jesus is the Master of strategy. He knows how to turn what looks like defeat into victory. Where the world sees endings, He sees beginnings. Where the devil sees ruin, He sees redemption.

Biblical Moments of Victory

• Five loaves and two fish? It looked like a hungry crowd would go unfed. But Jesus had one more move. Everyone ate—and twelve baskets were left over (John 6).
• Daniel in the lion’s den? It looked like the end. But God had one more move. Daniel emerged unharmed (Daniel 6).
• The adulterous woman? Surrounded by angry men with stones. But Jesus had one more move—“Let him without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8)
• The thief on the cross? He was moments from death. But Jesus had one more move—“Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23)
• On Good Friday? Jesus was crucified. The world thought it was over. But on Sunday morning, He rose. Our King defeated death. (Matthew 28)

Your Life Isn’t in Checkmate

Maybe you feel surrounded—by sin, shame, financial struggle, broken relationships, or despair. Maybe your country feels lost. Your family feels scattered. Your future feels empty.

But do not give up. The painting is a lie. Your King is not trapped. He’s just preparing His next move.

When you trust the Master, there is always a way out, always a path to victory, always one more move.

Stand Firm in Hope

“...He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by His stripes you were healed.”

You were bought with the blood of Christ. You are not forgotten. You are not defeated. Hope is alive because Jesus is alive.

Jesus Always Has One More Move

Let the world scheme. Let the enemy roar. Let fear knock. But stand firm in this truth: The game isn’t over until the King says it is.

And our King? He always has one more move.

I used to ache with confusion and fear about what submission meant in marriage. In my past marriage I felt pressured to obey and wondered if my worth depended on pleasing others. Emotionally and spiritually I struggled, feeling unloved and misunderstood. Over time, I turned to prayer and Scripture and discovered a kinder truth: submission is never meant to be forced. Instead, it flows out of the deep love that Jesus pours into our hearts.

My Struggle with Submission

For years I wrestled with questions like, “Am I failing God if I won’t obey my husband completely?” I remember feeling broken when submission was demanded without love. I obeyed outwardly, but inside I was hurting – my confidence shaken and my heart guarded. One night I cried out to God, feeling lost and alone. In that darkness, I sensed Him reminding me of who He truly is: a Father who loves me unconditionally.

God’s Love Brings Clarity

Slowly God’s Word began to heal my pain. I opened my Bible and read 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” In that verse I realized submission isn’t about proving ourselves; it’s about responding to God’s initiating love.

I was reminded again in Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Even when I felt unworthy, Jesus gave His life to show me I am valued. This truth sank deep: if God loved me at my worst, I can trust Him with every broken piece of my heart.

Learning to Love and Respect

Through healing, I began to understand what healthy submission looks like. The Bible calls husbands to love their wives sacrificially. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Submission must be inspired by love, not demanded. Colossians 3:18-19 adds: “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”

When I first read that, I felt God’s tenderness through His words. I realized submission isn’t about weakness or being bossed around – it’s about partnership under Christ’s guidance.

Hope for the Heartbroken

To any sister who feels hurt or broken by past or current relationships, please hear this: Jesus sees your tears. He loves you more than you can imagine. His love is patient and kind – it never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Even when people have let you down, Jesus laid down His life for you. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” He knows pain intimately and can bring beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

Devotional Questions

• Where have I felt unloved or pressured in my relationships? How might God’s love (Romans 5:8) heal those wounds?
• Am I trying to serve God through duty or through love? How does 1 John 4:10 change the way I see obedience?
• What does it look like to submit “as to the Lord” (Colossians 3:18) in a healthy, Christ-centered way?
• How has Jesus shown sacrificial love to me (John 15:13)? In what ways can I mirror that love?
• Is there a fear or hurt in my heart that I need to surrender to Jesus today?

A Prayer of Surrender

Dear Jesus, today I surrender my hurts and my questions to You. I trust that Your love is greater than my fears. Please fill me with Your peace and teach me to walk in Your love. Help me to submit to others out of gratitude for how deeply You submitted Yourself for me. Heal every broken part of my heart, and remind me daily that I am Your beloved daughter. Strengthen me to love as You love, to forgive as You forgive, and to hold onto hope when storms come. I release control into Your kind hands, knowing You will use my story for Your glory. In Your gentle name I pray, Amen.

Trusting God’s Timing When Life Feels Delayed

Many believers struggle with waiting seasons, wondering if God has forgotten their prayers. But Scripture assures us that every delay is divinely orchestrated. Ecclesiastes 3:1 declares, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” God's timing is always strategic, even when it's hidden from our understanding.

Abraham and Sarah: A Son in the Appointed Season

God promised Abraham a son, yet Isaac was born only when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. According to Genesis 21:2, “Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.”

Why the delay? Abraham came from an idol-worshipping family (see Joshua 24:2). If Isaac had been born earlier, he might have been dedicated to idols. God delayed to disconnect the promised child from generational idolatry and to display His glory. According to the Book of Jasher, Abraham even destroyed his father's idols—a prophetic break from idolatry.

Isaac and Rebekah: Prayer, Delay, and the Chosen Son

Rebekah, too, came from a family steeped in idolatry (Genesis 24:50-51). When she faced barrenness, Isaac prayed persistently. Genesis 25:21 says, “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife... The Lord answered his prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant.”

The delay was not punishment—it was divine orchestration. She carried two sons, but only one was chosen: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Romans 9:13, Malachi 1:2-3). Esau, the firstborn, was influenced by the idolatry in Rebekah's family and customs—possibly even dedicated to household idols. But Jacob was the promised child born through prayer and chosen by God.

Jacob and Rachel: Joseph’s Birth Marked the Shift

Rachel was barren for years. Then, in Genesis 30:22, “God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.” Joseph was born at the perfect time—just before Jacob left Laban’s idolatrous household.

Genesis 31:19 reveals that Rachel took her father’s household idols. Tradition holds she did this to break their spiritual power. Joseph, the fruit of Rachel’s prayer, was never meant to grow up under idolatry. His birth triggered Jacob’s departure, preserving the prophetic destiny God had for Joseph in Egypt.

Hannah and Samuel: A Priest for God’s Timing

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah longed for a son. But God delayed her womb until the right moment. Samuel was born when Eli was still alive but Hophni and Phinehas—Eli’s corrupt sons—were nearing judgment (1 Samuel 2:12-17).

Had Samuel been born earlier, he may have been corrupted. But God's delay allowed Samuel to grow under Eli’s watch while avoiding the toxic influence of Eli's sons. Samuel caught the priestly mantle at the exact time Israel needed a pure prophetic voice.

God Holds the Seasons: Scriptures on His Sovereign Timing

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
• Acts 1:7 – “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”
• Habakkuk 2:3 – “Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
• Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Encouragement: God’s Delays Are Strategic

God’s delays are never random. They’re purposeful, intentional, and filled with grace. Whether you're waiting for healing, a child, provision, or direction—remember the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Hannah is still writing your story.

Isaiah 60:22 assures us: “At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” What looks like a delay may be God protecting you, preparing you, or preserving your destiny.

Conclusion: Keep Trusting in His Timing

From barren wombs to prophetic births, the Bible is clear: God's divine timing is never off. Don’t lose heart if your promise seems delayed. The same God who brought Isaac, Joseph, and Samuel in due time is working in your life too.

Stay faithful. Keep praying. Keep believing. Because your “appointed time” is coming.

In Genesis 6–9, we read about Noah, the man who built the ark and obeyed God during a time of great wickedness. But behind this faithful man stood a woman of quiet strength—his wife—whose name was never mentioned in the Bible, yet whose support helped change the course of history.

Noah's wife is a powerful reminder to every Christian woman that God sees your silent faith, your unseen sacrifices, and your loving support. For over 100 years, she stood by her husband as he obeyed God, even when there was no visible revival, no crowd applauding, and no recognition. And yet, because of her faith and obedience, she and her family were saved.

The Silent Strength of a Supportive Wife

While the world mocked Noah, his wife never walked away. She stayed, supported, built, carried, fed, prepared, and trusted. She believed in her husband's calling when everyone else laughed. She trusted the voice of God when others scoffed.

Her strength was not loud—it was faithful. Her support was not public—it was consistent. Her obedience was not glamorous—but it was honored by God. She reminds every woman that you don’t have to be seen by man to be treasured by God.

Lessons from the Life of Noah’s Wife for Today’s Women

• Support your husband’s calling: Like Noah’s wife, you may be standing by a man with a vision that others don’t understand. Your faith fuels his faith.
• Raise children with faith: She helped raise sons who listened to God and entered the ark with their wives. Your quiet influence in your home shapes generations.
• Carry the hidden burdens: She likely cooked, cleaned, cared for animals, and helped maintain peace in a massive boat full of noise and mess. You, too, are doing sacred work in unseen places.
• Endure spiritual loneliness: When revival doesn't come, or prayers seem unanswered, don’t give up. Like her, stand firm. God sees.
• Trust God through the waiting: She waited decades before the first raindrop fell. Trust God even when you don’t see results.

Encouragement for Every Faithful Woman

Noah’s wife teaches us that you don’t need applause to be important. You are important because God called you to your family, your marriage, your children, your ministry. You are building an ark of safety in your home—even if the world doesn’t see it yet.

Don’t grow weary. Don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

God is writing your story, just like He wrote hers. And though her name may not be known on earth, surely it is honored in Heaven.

Key Bible Verses

• Galatians 6:2 – "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
• Romans 12:12 – "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
• Proverbs 31:25 – "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."
• Genesis 6:9 – "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."

Final Encouragement

Dear sister in Christ, you are not forgotten. Your love, your labor, and your loyalty matter deeply. You are a modern-day ark builder. Keep going. Keep loving. Keep trusting. God sees your faith—and He honors it.

You are not invisible to the One who matters most. Be like Noah’s wife—faithful in the shadows, steadfast through storms, and honored in eternity.

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