“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” — Psalm 127:1

This week marks a milestone in my life – 16 years of marriage with my husband, David. Sixteen years of love, commitment, storms and sunshine. Sixteen years where I have seen, again and again, that marriage built on Christ is strong enough to withstand any challenge.

Marriage doesn’t promise perfection. There are no guarantees that life will be smooth, or that the road will always be easy. But when God is at the center – when He is the foundation and the anchor (Hebrews 6:19) – we don’t just survive. We thrive.

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A One Year Commitment to Christ

Before I married David, I made a decision: for one year, my “relationship” would be with Jesus alone. No romantic relationship. No expectations. I told myself I was “married to Jesus.” And if truth be told, I never held back in my reality when asked, “Jenny, are you married?” My response that whole year, was, “Yes, I am taken, as I am married to Jesus.” (Proverbs 16:3)

Looking back now, I can say without hesitation – it was one of the wisest decisions I’ve ever made. That year of intentionally building my relationship with Christ laid a foundation of strength, clarity, and commitment – and with God’s grace would carry me and my marriage through many difficult times.

Because when you start with Jesus – when you build on Him – you don’t walk by feelings. You walk by faith. Feelings are fleeting, whereas faith stands firm in blissful happiness and even in the crashing storms of life.

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The enemy’s Attack on Marriage

Over 16 years, life has thrown many things at us – challenges, temptations, seasons of doubt, hardship, confusion, and even sorrow. One thing I have learned – often the hard way – is that marriage is not only a covenant between two people, but a God-ordained covenant, which means it is always under spiritual attack. Jesus tells us plainly in John 10:10 that “the thief comes only to kill, steal, and destroy.” And friend, marriage is one of the enemy’s favorite battlegrounds.

Why?

Because a Christ-centered marriage reflects God’s design. It represents unity, sacrifice, forgiveness, commitment, and love – everything Satan hates. When a husband and wife stand together in covenant, they become a living testimony of God’s faithfulness. So of course, the enemy wants to disrupt it. He wants to steal peace, kill unity, and destroy the bond God created to glorify Him.

I’ve seen the enemy try to creep into our marriage in moments of weakness, exhaustion, hurt, or misunderstanding. Times when we weren’t guarding our hearts, times when we weren’t intentionally seeking God, times when we allowed our flesh to speak louder than our faith. But let me tell you – the enemy did not win. And he never will as long as we stay anchored in Christ.

Because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Because what God joins together, no one – not even the enemy – has the authority to tear apart (Matthew 19:6).

And so here we are… stronger than ever. Not because we are perfect. Not because we’ve done everything right. But because we chose, every single time, to put God first.

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Through the Ups, Downs, and Everything In Between

This past weekend, as we reflected on our journey together, David said to me, and I echoed back:

“Thank God we never gave up.”

And truly – we are here by His grace. We have each other to lean on, in a world that often rejects commitment, love, and faithfulness.

When the world screams temptations loud, we turn our eyes to Christ. When discouragement tries to steal our hope, we cling to God’s promises. When survival feels impossible, we remember we’re not alone – He is with us, ALWAYS!

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The Secret to a God-Honoring Marriage

If there’s one thing I’ve learned – one truth I want to shout from the rooftops – it is this:

Put God first. Always.

When God is first in your marriage, everything else finds its proper place.
Your love becomes stronger.
Your commitment becomes deeper.
Your hearts become unified.

There will never be “perfection” – but you will have perseverance.
There will be mistakes – but He offers grace.
There will be doubts – but faith will carry you.
There will be pain – but He brings healing.

And ultimately, there will be hope. Because His love endures. His mercy renews. His strength sustains.

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Thankful for This Journey — and for the Future

Looking back, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Grateful for David. Grateful for every lesson learned. Grateful for every trial survived. Grateful for God’s faithfulness even when we weren’t.

This anniversary isn’t just a celebration of time – it’s a celebration of God’s goodness, His presence, and His plan.

If you’re reading this and you’re married – or hoping to be one day – I pray this encourages your heart.
If you’re single, I pray you trust God’s timing and build your relationship with Him first.
If you’re hurting, I pray you cling to His promises – because He sees you, and He loves you.

Friend, marriage may be a journey of many seasons. But when Christ is the center, every season has purpose.

Here’s to many more years – not because we’re perfect – but because we serve a God who is.

Happy 16th Anniversary, my love. And thank You, Lord, for every moment. Amen.

Enjoy the additional encouragement in song. Click the link to hear the song pertaining to this week’s message of hope: God gave me You by an unknown author