We want to marry, but we will have to live apart for the first year. How can we have a strong marriage?
Question:
I am truly in love with him and he is with me. We talk about God a lot and we stay communicating at all times. He has brightened my world. He asked me to marry him, and we would have to have a long-distance marriage for now. I just wanted to know if our marriage can still be a strong marriage with God if we are apart like that. I have people telling me things, and I don’t believe that I would be crazy to marry him as they say. I would think God would be in agreement with me. Can you help me?
Answer:
I don't know if I can help or not since you indicate that your mind is made up.
The first year of marriage is important to creating a strong foundation. Under the Old Law, a husband was not to be sent away for the first year. "When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken" (Deuteronomy 24:5). If a strong marriage is your goal, planning to be separated at the beginning is not the way to accomplish that goal. You would actually be better off waiting until you can live together before getting married.
Why must it be that you are separated?
