Hey there, my friend.

Whether you’re married, divorced, single, or anywhere in between, you likely know the obvious but tough-to-accept truth: marriage is difficult.

You’ve probably experienced tough seasons in your marriage, or you know someone who has. In our culture that idolizes romance, I’m not sure we’ve ever had such a wide gap between what we think marriage should be like and what it’s actually like.

I’m passionate about this topic, not simply because I’m a “hopeless romantic,” but because my own marriage is truly a living, breathing miracle. Apart from the sustaining, transformative work of the Holy Spirit, there’s no way that my marriage should still be standing. But standing we are—and happily! Not just gutting it out “for the kids.”

But oh, it’s taken years and tears to reach this place. If ours were a novel, it would be a Tolstoy (think: War and Peace) or some other long-winded author. We’ve walked a long, slow journey from brokenness to something that looks a bit like healing.

Back in the Summer of 2011, I spent each morning on my knees before the Lord, crying out with tears and supplication. I desperately needed His guidance and healing in my marriage. At this point, we had endured a separation, decided to reconcile, and now faced the uphill climb of putting it back together with hours and hours of therapy.

During that summer, my chronological Bible took me through the book of Isaiah, one of my all-time favorite books. God spent weeks speaking truth into my heart almost every day—whispering promises of His hope and presence for the long road ahead.

While Isaiah was written thousands of years ago to God’s exiled people, I find it oh-so-applicable to those struggling to hang onto hope in marriage. God sent Isaiah to speak timeless truth, fresh hope, and new promises into the weary hearts of His children who, in their minds, had lost all hope of a decent future. Boy, have I been there. Maybe you have, too. Maybe you’re there now.

The beautiful truth is, God shone the light into a dark place—as He’s so faithful to do. And I believe He can shine that same light into the dark places of our marriages.

So today, I’m sharing six passages of Scripture from the book of Isaiah that you can pray over your union. God used these to help me through a long, dark season. And friend, He can do the same for you. There is so much power in praying His Word over our lives. Today, I’m praying you will experience that transformation in the days ahead!

6 Scriptures to Pray Over Your Marriage

1. When your mind is racing and you’re longing for peace

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.”

~Isaiah 26:3-4

2. When you’re desperate for direction and wisdom about the next steps

“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! . . . Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'”

~Isaiah 30:18; 21

3. When your soul is weary from the struggle

“LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”

~Isaiah 33:2

4. When you lack the strength to persevere another day

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

~Isaiah 40:28-31

5. When you’re feeling alone and consumed with fear for the days ahead

“But now, this is what the LORD says–he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.'”

~Isaiah 43:1-3

6. When you’re struggling to believe that God can do something new

“This is what the LORD says–he who made a way through the sea . . . ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'”

~Isaiah 43: 16; 18-19

With Grace,