Covering

“But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9 ~ESV

There is something to be said about a man who prays for his wife. — About the power of a man that loves the Lord and loves his wife fiercely.

My husband is an amazing man. One day while I was going to have a standard bone biopsy procedure, Matt sent me a text (as he often does). It read: “Hi babe, I am praying for you. I am praying that the procedure will be less painful and that you will be ok. I love you.”

 I smiled at the text and went to the hospital.

When I walked into the room, I was nervous about the amount of pain I would be facing. The  Dr. explained the procedure and the process she uses. She assured me that she would like me to have as little pain as possible. After explaining everything, she asked.

“What kind of music would help you get your mind off what is about to take place.”

 At first, I said it didn’t matter, but the Dr. was insistent. So I made my request, “Kari Jobe, when I am anxious, her music helps me refocus and have peace.”

With worship playing, we got started. 

Peace took over as the music played. The beginning was painful, but the doctor decided to be more generous with lidocaine, successfully numbed the area, and got a biopsy with minor pain.

I laid there thanking God for my husband interceding. I was aww at how God showed up and carried me thru that visit. Not because I did not feel God would be with me, but because my husband was in constant prayer for me. God showed up and showed me that Matt is my covering.

God reminded me that though I walk with an armor of great faith, that does not make me invincible to the pain that comes when fiery arrows penetrate armor. 

With every hit that penetrated this armor, I was left broken and bruised before God and my family. Matt has been covering me in prayer. He was interceding when all I had to offer was tears.

When I think of a man leaving his mother and father and cleaving to his wife, I think of how my husband carries me in prayer in my brokenness, how he speaks life to my dry places and encourages me to get alone with the Lord and sit in his presence. Cleaving to us does not solely mean detaching from “mommy and daddy influences” or being a good provider. But it also means to be that spiritual leader, to cover us and go before us, to stand with us in our weakness. It means while our spouses lead us by keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus and all he is doing. We should be doing the same.

No, husbands are not perfect, but guess what, neither are we. So keep loving them the way God asks of us, keep praying for them, especially in times of trouble, keep serving & respecting them and watch how God uses your husband to be a blessing to you just as you are to them.