M.C.
Hi B.,
My heart goes out to you and your family. Marriage is tough enough when you're in love with your spouse and there isn't any children yet. So adding in all the stresses that you have mentioned, it can seem impossible. You mentioned prayer, so I'm going to assume that you believe in the power of praying to Our Heavenly Father and in the name of Jesus. I've been reading Power of a Praying Wife again this month. There's a lot of wisdom in that book from a Christian woman who was married over 25 years when she wrote it. One of the biggest lessons I've learned while reading it is that those times when it seems like talking to your husband is futile are the times when you need to submit it all to God.
My husband and I have had it pretty rough. We got married after being together for 7 years. We weren't in a church at the time we married. That first year of marriage was so wonderful and difficult. A lot of the stress was centered around me not being able to find a job for what I studied in college, and him getting stressed out about the finances. A friend of ours brought us back to church, and we have been doing so much better ever since. Our priorities have fallen into their proper places. Life isn't about climbing that corporate ladder or about financial success. We were put here to get ready for our eternal lives. So much stress has fallen by the wayside when we look at it that way. Now our vision is united, and we are closer than ever before. We still have fights, but I've been learning to pray to God instead of beating a dead horse. It has worked miracles in our marriage!
One note, though. Sometimes, God wants to change us first! Even though we believe that our husbands are the ones that need to change, we gotta realize that there may be areas that need fixing in ourselves. That's ok. Our husbands will most likely notice a change in us.
I believe that if you pray everyday for your marriage, and if you have other women joining you in those prayers, that your marriage could be saved. If you don't have the book The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian, I suggest you get it. I'll even buy it for you if you let me. The book gives you an area to pray over your husband for each of the 30 chapters. I'll be praying for your marriage. If you want, I can become an "official" prayer partner with you. Just let me know. I'm here for you.
In His Love,
M.