Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.†And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.†Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2:18, 22-24. (ESV)
I wonder how many of us aspired to be a pastor’s wife when we were young, dreaming of what we would become? It was really not on my list. Was it on yours? Eventually God placed a special person in your life. You were united together in marriage to this man who was a pastor or had that in his future. And, almost overnight, you became a pastor’s wife.
In the early years of marriage and ministry, it was hard for me to understand what my “call†was. My husband’s Call seemed so clear, even written out on an official-looking document. Sometimes frustration and resentment made their way into our otherwise happy and strong marriage.
Have you experienced less than desirable moments like this? Then turn to God and his Word. God first created man and woman for each other during his 6 days of creation. Here we see God’s design for marriage. God created Adam—in his perfect image as the crown of his creation. He provided Adam with all of the creatures of land, sea and air, and still no suitable helper was found. However, Adam needed a helper, someone with whom he could spend his life. So God knew best how to provide for Adam. He created a woman just for him! Adam and Eve didn’t choose each other; God chose each of them for the other. His head and helper design was perfect!
God gave you and your husband to each other to love and honor each other. God did call you! First he called you to be his redeemed child. He also called you to a life of service to him. In this case, it is a life of public ministry. He called you to be your husband’s helper. What a high calling and awesome privilege! So I ask myself—and you can ask yourself too - Have I actively been my husband’s helper today by lovingly making our home a place of refuge for him after a long day of tending to God’s flock? Or have I grumbled and shown frustration about the lengthy hours he gave to church work? Have I talked well of him to others? Or have I slandered his name because of a festering irritation?
When we are not acting as our husband’s helper as God willed us to, we go to him in prayer and repentance. In his grace, he forgives us of those selfish and haughty sins. He continues to equip and empower us to be our husband’s helper.
