Did you know that marriage is like an examination where certain things in your life would be tested to ascertain whether you’re qualified for or not?
I remember the first time I wrote my first school-leaving examination, I only passed two subjects, and I had to re-sit the exam before I could earn a certificate. Many people fail in marriage because they failed some subjects in it.
In the last series, I told you that marriage would test the level of patience and understanding you have, and trust me, it would keep testing it. The day you or your partner fails to provide sufficient proof to defeat the situation at hand, that’s the day failure looms in your union.
What other things would marriage test in you?
3. Your Knowledge Bank
What do you know about marriage? What do you know about dealing with women, especially when they’re pregnant?
How can you cope with a man when he’s financially down? Do you know how to relate to in-laws, even your spouse (or partner)?
Marriage will test what you know. Even if you know God, some circumstances in marriage will test it.
While writing this series, my wife pointed out how insensitive I was to the concern she raised. It wasn’t as if I wasn’t sensitive, I only took it with levity. After we spoke about it, we laughed it off, and she prayed for me. If I was ignorant of how to deal with the issue, it would have led to a bigger one.
It’s not bad to read books or gather knowledge about marriage. Be ready to stand firm should any test come your way.
He who gives up when what he knows is tested is he who knows nothing about what he claims to know. The proof that you have enough knowledge is your ability to withstand the good, bad, and ugly situations you’re faced with.
Knowledge is one thing, doing what you know is a different thing entirely. When you don’t know what you should know in marriage, you can’t do the right thing.
Due to the wrong knowledge, some people think there’s an exit door in marriage when they have minor issues. Meanwhile, those who have the right knowledge would know that you don’t leave the kitchen when the heat is much.
The kind of knowledge you and your partner have would determine the kind of experience you’d have in marriage, whether it would be enjoyable or an endurance trek.
Learn. Relearn. And unlearn the wrong things that would be harmful to your marriage.
4. Your Problem-solving skills
Nobody was born with the ability to solve problems. We honed our skills as we grew. Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived, prayed for an understanding heart to judge the people, and God gave him.
Problems are part of the inevitabilities of life. No one prays for them, but when they come, how do you intend to solve them?
Some problems could be financial, medical, spiritual, emotional, or mental in nature, as the case may be. Some could be major, minor, or moderate. If you don’t know how to solve problems or approach them the right way, it’s unwise to step into the institution of marriage.
Your inability to solve some minor or basic problems could translate into a bigger one. Nobody congratulates a woman who leaves the kitchen when the heat is much, but when she finishes and the food is delicious, she will be applauded.
So, how do you intend to solve problems when they come? Do you have the requisite knowledge to solve problems?
When Solomon was faced with deciding on who owned the living child without medical science to conduct a DNA test, he told them to bring a sword to divide the living child. I’m sure you know the rest of the story.
Sharpen your problem-solving skills before you step into marriage, or now that you’re in it (it’s not too late). Never forget that you need the right knowledge for you to administer the right solution to any problems that come your way in marriage.
Remember, problems are inevitable in marriage, but a combination of patience, understanding, and knowledge are your bailout systems whenever they come.
So, can you assess your knowledge bank and how polished your problem-solving skills are? It’s not too late to brace up. To increase your knowledge bank, immerse yourself in scriptural truths and feed your mind with God’s word. And to hone your problem-solving skills, invite Jesus Christ and involve the Holy Spirit.
Remember, one of the things that makes marriage sweet is your ability to apply the right knowledge to solve any problem that comes your way.
So, learn; keep learning. Unlearn, and relearn.
