We had an Anglican wedding ceremony, which has a lovely script, and it includes the traditional vows along with other promises like, “All that I have I share with you.” The script doesn’t allow for much creativity, but our pastor did make one exception: Before we said our vows, he let us share the testimony of how God brought us together.

Despite Raquel’s nervousness about sharing in front of a large crowd, she did it calmly and confidently. And when she finished telling the story, she looked at me and said three words that have stayed with me: “I’m trusting you.”

I want to be that man she can trust, and on my wedding day, I thought I was. However, if eight years of marriage have taught me anything, they’ve taught me that being a good husband doesn’t come naturally to me. It’s often easier for me to be prideful, unwilling to listen, spiritually apathetic, and put off emotional intimacy for another time.

I’m not abandoned to my own devices though. As the Word says, “Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14). My job as a husband isn’t to become something I’m not, but to submit myself to Jesus and let Him grow me into a man who lives more like Him.

So as I walk behind Christ — imitating, through obedience, His unconditional love for my wife — I declare the same thing to Him that Raquel did to me: “I’m trusting You.”

When I feel tempted by anger, lust, or pride in my marriage.

Jesus, I’m trusting You.

When I don’t want to listen or even try to understand my wife.

I’m trusting You.

When I’m apathetic about spiritually leading my family.

I’m trusting You.

When I don’t want to put the time into emotional intimacy.

I’m trusting You.

As I turn to Him, over and over again, I slowly develop a habit of dependency. And in that place, I begin to realize what He means when He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

This article was originally published on JoshuaRogers.com on 8 June 2016.