Addressing Misconceptions in Marriage

Have you found that your married life is TOTALLY different, than you imagined it ever would be before you and your spouse said, “I do?” Yes, it’s totally different for us too! And we do mean TOTALLY! It’s amazing to think about all of the misconceptions we carry into our marriages!

But it’s important that we work through those differences in healthy ways, so we don’t destroy our relationship.

So, to help us in this mission of marriage, we will be shining a light upon and addressing misconceptions (at least a few of them) that we can grab onto concerning marriage.

“A cynic once said, ‘Marriage is like a hot bath. Once you get used to it, it isn’t so hot.’ I take exception to part of that sour skeptic’s point of view. Anyone knows if the bath water gets too cold, you merely add more hot water.

“Yet we often fail to use this same common sense in marriage. We think, perhaps subconsciously, that on our wedding day all we need is love for each other, and our marriage will last a lifetime, propelling us through all the marital storms that life might blow our way. Erroneously, we believe we will automatically live in marital bliss ’till death do us part.'” (Barbara Russell Chesser)

Oh, how naive we can be! But here’s something else that Chesser said that is oh, so true:

“One essential step in preventing marriage from cooling off is getting rid of unrealistic expectations for marriage.”

Addressing Common Misconceptions

So, in light of this, we’re sharing some naive expectations and common misconceptions from the book, When the Glass Slipper Doesn’t Fit written by Claire Cloninger and Karla Worley (used by permission). The authors also give insights into some of the truths they have discovered along the way to fight against these misconceptions. We encourage you to prayerfully consider the points they make. So, here goes:

Misconception #1: The Degree-of-Difficulty theory

I thought marriage would be easier. I thought we’d fit together more or less automatically. Plus, I thought love would glide us through the “bonding process” without a hitch.

But I’ve found that very little seems to happen automatically in a marriage relationship. Marriage is work—sometimes sweaty, uncomfortable work. In fact, I figure that the degree of difficulty in combining two lives ranks somewhere between rerouting a hurricane and finding a parking place in downtown Manhattan.

I am of the opinion that only God Himself can make a marriage happen really well. And when He does it His way, it’s one of His very best miracles. What God can create out of the combined ingredients of two surrendered lives is indeed “infinitely more than we ever dare to ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Misconception #2: The “Clairvoyant” Spouse Theory

When I was a newlywed, I thought that if Claire really loved me, he should automatically know what I was thinking and feeling. He would know what I needed without my verbalizing a thing. If my needs weren’t being met exactly as I felt they should be, I would jump to the conclusion that he didn’t love me.

It was an enormous breakthrough for me to realize that Claire really wanted to be there for me. He wanted to be able to meet my needs the best he could. But he wasn’t a mind reader. He couldn’t know what I needed unless I told him!

And so, over the years, we’ve gotten better at sharing our thoughts and feelings. We’re also better about clarifying our hopes, needs, and expectations for each other and our relationship. As a consequence, we’ve gotten better at meeting each other’s needs and helping each other realize some of those hopes and expectations.

Misconception #3: The Key-to-Happiness Theory

Before I was married, I thought being happy meant getting what you want. I have learned, after thirty-seven years of marriage, that being happy means loving what you get.

Misconception #4: The Beef-Stew Theory

In the early years of our marriage, when we were both in school and working a couple of jobs and not seeing nearly enough of each other, I had the misconception that a marriage can survive that kind of benign neglect.

I’ve learned since then the truth of what my friend Chris Kelly always says. Making a marriage is a lot like making a stew. It will only be as good as the ingredients you put into it. If you aren’t taking time for long talks and long walks together, for special dinners and afternoons off, for laughter and romance and celebrating each other, your marriage is going to be a bland and watery dish indeed.

Misconception #5: The Major Moments Theory

I somehow assumed early on that the most important days in a marriage would be the anniversaries, the weddings, the Christmases, and the family reunions. I have found instead that the most important day in any marriage is today.

My friend Mr. George told me something when he was a very old man; it’s something I’ve never forgotten. “Claire,” he said, “Don’t wait to be happy. Don’t put it off.

“Martha Lee and I were always going to take a fancy trip out to California when Buddy was through with college. We never made it to California.” He chuckled a little, sadly shaking his head. I imagine he was remembering his Martha Lee. And then he said, “Call up Karla right now. You two ought to go out and do something wonderful together… tonight!”

Misconception #6: The Grin-and-Bear-It Theory

I’ve got to confess that I used to have a major misconception about God and marriage. I thought that if we do get stuck in a lousy marriage, God wants us to hang on by the skin of our teeth. We’d simply gut it out until the bitter end. I was wrong about this—terribly wrong.

This is not what God wants. He wants us to stay together, all right. But it’s not enough just to gut it out. He wants us to stay, pray, work and keep loving. He wants us to give Him all the time and space He needs to make our lousy marriage into something not just tolerable, but beautiful and brave and strong. It is to be something that will witness to His mercy and His presence in this world.

I think He’s saying something to married couples, if we will just hear Him: “Don’t settle for a bad marriage, or even a mediocre one. Don’t lower your expectations. Raise them! Trust Me! I’m still a God of miracles!”

That’s SO true! But we found another important point that also needs to be made. Patrick Mabilog (in his article, “5 Common Misconceptions of a Christian Marriage”) makes this point and we whole-heartedly agree!

The Most Important Misconception: Knowing God’s Commands is Enough

It’s not enough to know God’s commands given on marriage and life. As a couple, we must practice and obey God’s commands, not just for our spouses’ sake, but for ours as well.

We need to know the Lord in a personal way AND we need to know His Word (by reading and praying through it); but we also MUST apply what the Lord shows us as it pertains to living with our spouse. We can have the greatest of intentions, and the greatest tools at our fingertips to help us in our marriages; but if we don’t know AND apply what we know, what good is it?

So, to help combat marital misconceptions, let’s learn together and apply what we learn. Here’s a link to a helpful scriptural tool that we encourage you to take advantage of and apply:

• PROVERBS FOR EVERYDAY MARRIED LIFE 

Please know that in combating against misconceptions in marriage (as Doug Fields points out and we agree):

“It doesn’t matter what age you are or how long you’ve been a Christian; a fresh start is possible for everybody. You can start over! The bad news is that most people give up; they settle for second best; they don’t start over; they stay stuck. Please don’t allow that to be you. Don’t quit. Don’t panic. And don’t give up. Remember that God is committed to carrying on the work He has started in you! There is unlimited grace, mercy, forgiveness, healing, and newness of life for anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord. So, keep pressing on in the journey to which God has called you. Your fresh start is waiting for you. “

May we commit to work on our marriages this week and beyond to be “something that will witness to His mercy and His presence…”

Cindy and Steve Wright

— ADDITIONALLY —

To help you even further, we give a lot of personal stories, humor, and more practical tips in our book, 7 ESSENTIALS to Grow Your Marriage. We hope you will pick up a copy for yourself. (It’s available both electronically and in print form.) Plus, it can make a great gift for someone else. It gives you the opportunity to help them grow their marriage. And who doesn’t need that? Just click on the linked title or the picture below:

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