Each morning, before work, my husband and I hold hands, and pray.
One morning, after our prayer, he asked me to listen to a song on YouTube called Stumblin’ In. He said it reminded him of us—especially how our sins had caused us to stumble in our marriage.
I agreed. We’ve had our share of stumbles.
That coming Sunday, we stayed home sick and watched church online. When we turned on YouTube, that same song appeared again. We listened before service, and it stirred both good and hard memories.
The message that day was titled “Helper or Hindrance,” based on Gospel of Matthew 16:21–28. Jesus spoke of the cross ahead, but Peter resisted, wanting his own idea of how things should be.
I could relate. When I got married, I had my own picture of a “perfect” marriage—and so did my husband. But reality looked different. Our sins caused us to stumble, especially in the early years.
Jesus said to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. We weren’t doing that for a long time, but when we began to, things changed. It wasn’t easy. There were hard crosses to carry. But as we followed Jesus, we stumbled less.
Resurrection came to our marriage.
Without the cross, there is no resurrection.
So the question is—are we helping or hindering what Jesus wants to do in our lives and relationships?
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for speaking truth to us. Show us where we need to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow You. Help us release our expectations and trust Your plan. Cleanse our hearts, strengthen us, and lead us to be helpers—not hindrances—in Your will. Remind us that after the cross, there is always resurrection.
Amen.
