We are just under three weeks out from our inaugural Better Than Ever FCC Marriage Retreat! Time is flying by. Hopefully, you’re looking forward to this weekend getaway. Hopefully you aren’t wracked with apprehension, wondering exactly when during the weekend Pastor Cody is going to hand you the mic and say, “Tell us how you suck as a spouse?”

     Maybe this is a good time to dispel some apprehensions about the weekend. You will not be called on the carpet. You will not be made to publicly air you and your spouse’s dirty laundry. You will not be embarrassed publicly. No good comes from those kinds of situations. Being forced to share, put on the spot, or compelled to reveal private struggles we have as a couple don’t do anyone any good. They often drive partners away from one another and they certainly drive people away from community.

     Now, having said that, do come prepared to share. But Cody, you just said I wouldn’t have to! I said you wouldn’t be forced to in front of a large group. But if you want this weekend to work, if you want your marriage to be better than ever, then you need to be willing to share. At least with your spouse. Come prepared to talk to your spouse about your relationship. Maybe, for some of you, it’s been years since you actually talked about your relationship with your spouse. You talk about everything else: kids, jobs, schedules, church, finances, sex life, etc. But you don’t actually talk about your relationship. Come prepared to share with your spouse. And, maybe, just maybe, be prepared to share with someone else too. We all need community in our lives who love us and pray for us. If you don’t have that, it’s because you haven’t shared with anyone. We all need community, which means we all need to be willing to share our burdens.

     You will not be forced to open up in front of a group. But you should come prepared to open up. Don’t waste this weekend. It’s a weekend with your spouse away from everything where you two can talk about your marriage and get things started on the right track again. It’s a weekend surrounded by people who are married, working on their relationships, love God, and love you. Don’t waste these opportunities.

     This week, pray that God helps you locate the areas of your relationship you need to share with your spouse. And pray that God gives you the strength to make the most of the weekend that’s coming our way!