Handling the Nakedness of Marriage

Lately, I have been praying about the truth or nakedness that is necessary in a marriage. Yes, I have seen some recent online video interviews (LOL) but I have also been asked to pray for various people, including their marriage. Being a part of a prayer ministry that happens a lot; although I would get those requests regardless if I were a part of the prayer ministry or not. Even amid praying for my own marriage, God kept having me go back to the verses about how the man should love his wife as Christ loves the church and how the wife should submit to her husband as to the Lord (Read Ephesians 5: 22-26). God had to remind me most couples only brush the surface of what that means and have a tough time handling the nakedness of marriage.

The marriage vows help to acknowledge the sacred covenant that is between husband and wife. There are specific teachings in the Bible that gives each spouse specific directions on how to ensure their marriage can remain stable through the good and bad. When I thought about the above-mentioned verses from the Bible, I recognized how serious these were. Jesus Christ loves the church unconditionally. Despite every sin committed. Despite any outside flaws or what society may consider as unattractive in appearance. Even when we are fully naked, Jesus Christ still does not forsake us. In fact, He cloth us, feeds us, protects us, prays for us, and so much more. There is no room to doubt or suspensions on Jesus Christ’s love. There is a trust and even a divine jealously that allows for a strong level of security in mind, body, and spirit. To parallel this to a marriage: the wife should have an appropriate level of confidence that despite her flaws and sins, her husband will love her unconditionally. Just like we must come before Him with our nakedness, wives need to feel safe in going to their husbands in their nakedness. A wife needs to feel a keen sense of trust for her to do that. That keen sense is connected to the same depth of unconditional love, so it goes both ways.

---

Now, we submit ourselves to Jesus Christ because He can love us unconditionally. A wife will find it exceedingly difficult to submit herself (or to love unconditionally) to her husband who is constantly judging, playing ‘tit-for-tat’, keep record of all sins, and mistakes. Unlike Jesus Christ who makes no mistakes, we will because we are human. That is why marriage is often considered the example of the relationship between Christ and the church: because we are not perfect but in a real relationship, the love should be unconditional. Marriage should be built on unconditional love. Not built on what ‘marriage looks good’ or ‘marriage is the ultimate relationship goal’.

I have said this multiple times: Being a wife is a calling. I also believe being a husband is a calling. It is not to say that certain people are incapable of loving unconditionally or submitting to their spouse. It takes a different level of spiritual maturity to endure marriage. This is what I recently felt God was trying to get me to understand about marriage: when marriage first was establish, Adam and Eve were naked. Nothing was hidden. No shame. No guilt. No regrets. That is what makes a marriage sacred. Many spouses are still trying to hide because of their mistakes. Many spouses are still trying to wear multiple masks because they are pretending to be somebody else, for their spouse and the world. Many spouses are unwilling to mature while naked to help establish an even stronger bond in their marriage. Even Adam and Eve matured while they were naked because they helped each other further the growth of the garden; even before the fall. When both spouses grow in spiritual maturity, while fully naked, they are exemplifying the kind of relationship we should have with God. It is only when we start to put on masks, hide, and covering up our sins is when our growth is stunted. When growth is stunted, nothing but trouble is bound to happen.

Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash

---

The only jeweler to offer a no-fee digital layaway program with no Credit checks or deposits required!

---

Question: If married, can you handle the ‘nakedness’ necessary for a stable marriage? If not, why? Are you willing to grow in spiritual maturity to handle the nakedness? Leave your comment below.