Islands, Tides, and the Deep: A Marriage Message From the Seaಮಾದರಿ

Barrier Islands:

Last summer, we took our family to Florida for four days. Each day we woke up to red flags, meaning it was too dangerous for our family to enjoy the water. The shoreline was loud, the waves were high, and the tide was dangerous. We were “stuck at the pool” the whole trip.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast may not be known for its beauty, but, man, is it peaceful and quiet. You’ll never have a red flag day there. That’s because there’s a line of islands right off the coast that protects it from the storms that may come. They take the hit of hurricanes so that the mainland doesn’t have to. They absorb the waves and energy from the ocean to protect the shoreline. They help maintain the ecosystem, and they ultimately prevent erosion. They protect the peace.

What does that have to do with your marriage? The Mississippi coastline has a natural defense, and your marriage needs a defense, too! Your marriage needs boundaries. It needs protection from the enemy. It also needs protection from outside forces, outside relationships, and outside influences. It needs a line of islands to protect the peace — a line that absorbs the energy and protects your relationship from eroding. It needs a boundary to keep the big storms out, or at least lessen their impact. Your marriage needs a barrier from the outside world.

In Genesis 2:24, God instructs us that a man is to leave his family and join to his wife as they become one flesh. God is clear that once you enter the marriage covenant that the marriage relationship is supposed to trump all other earthly relationships.

In Song of Solomon 2:15, it warns to “catch the little foxes” because they can “spoil our vineyards.” This is a poetic reminder that even small threats can spoil something beautiful. Don’t let little threats, little distractions, and the temptations of the enemy ruin your beautiful marriage. May we be vigilant in protecting our marriages.

What would it look like if you began to implement boundaries around your marriage? How would that prevent the outside world from eroding your marriage? Are there other relationships that are causing big waves in your marriage?

Challenge: Build Your Barrier Islands

Talk with your spouse today about areas of your marriage relationship that need more protection. Commit to implementing boundaries to protect this beautiful gift the Lord has given you in your marriage. Try to identify at least one “wave-maker” — something outside your marriage that’s threatening your peace (a draining relationship, an overwhelming commitment, or even too much screen time).

Then ask each other: “What kind of boundary could we put in place to protect our peace?”

Choose one boundary to set this week — like a barrier island protecting your coast — and commit to revisiting it in a few days. Talk about whether it helped calm the waters between you.