So you’ve made all your vows, the wedding cake’s been cut, bouquet’s been thrown, and now you and your brand new husband/wife are standing there ready to take on the world together. Then suddenly the realisation hits you that this is the person you’re going to spend all the rest of your life with. It’s a wonderful and scary reality at the same time. You’re both totally in love now, and you’ve promised to live in harmony. Forever. As much as marriage can be painted as a fairytale, in reality it’s difficult to be constantly living in harmony with one person. So how can you avoid letting small problems turn into things which make you drift apart? The Message says ‘Wives…support your husbands…Husbands, go all out in love for your wives’ (Colossians 3:18-19). Devote yourselves completely to building up and helping each other, even through the difficult times. Think of yourselves as one, not two. This doesn’t mean you’ve got to give up your own identity and the things that make you unique. It’s more like adding an extra dimension to yourself, in the shape of a person who helps you work on your bad points and improve your good points. And you’re doing the same for them. Getting married might be the last thing on your mind at the moment. But if it happens, you’re going to be spending a long time with your partner. So before you get there, ask God to help you prepare by giving you a heart that desires to help others and encourages them to be the best they can be.

What now?
Commit to encouraging your closest friends to be the best they can be. That means helping them to improve their weakest areas and to develop their strongest areas, supporting them through tough times and celebrating good times with them.