October 1, 2026
It’s hard to believe that 45 years ago today a 19-year-old girl walked down the aisle to marry a 20-year-old guy. The love story of a high school basketball player and a cheerleader. It just doesn’t seem possible to me. I mean, I can’t be that old, right?
At the time Wayne and I married, I was a new believer. I had only been walking with the Lord for about a year. Wayne was saved at a younger age but he probably would say he had not been walking with the Lord as he should have.
We both had jobs but had relatively little savings and no “real” furniture. We were living in a garage apartment and were just happy to be with each other. Life was simple and we felt like we had it all, when in reality we had very little. (Side note: This might have been why my parents were a little against me getting married, but that’s another story).
It was the beginning of a journey, and to be honest with you, as I look back, I don’t know how in the world we would have survived the journey without both of us consistently walking with the Lord. Marriage is tough. There are days when everything is just fun, easy, and trouble-free, but then there are days when it has been excruciatingly painful and extremely hard.
God has been there through all of them. Walking beside us, guiding us, holding our hands and some days just holding us up. If you know Wayne, you know he is the funny, life-of-the-party type guy, totally opposite of me. I am the organizer, the planner, the person who likes to be in the background without much attention drawn to me. I am the worrier and Wayne worries about nothing.
Sometimes when I think about this I realize what a sense of humor God must have. He must stay amused when He looks at our marriage because we are so very different. However, God knew exactly what He was doing when He placed us together as man and wife. You see, God knew that I would need someone to make me laugh and lighten the heavy load of all the scenarios around raising a special needs child, so God provided Wayne.
I know without Wayne making me laugh and seeing the “bright side” of things it would have been extremely overwhelming. God knew that I would need someone who could calm my anxieties and help me “work out” my plans when things felt out of control, so God provided Wayne.
I know without someone talking me out of my anxious thoughts and assisting me with my plans I would have been a hot mess (although sometimes I still am), so God provided Wayne as my partner.
In 45 years of marriage, we have been through a lot of different scenarios together. We have had three children, attended baseball, cheerleading, softball, and many other activities supporting these children. We have had sicknesses, surgeries, accidents, and tons of doctor and hospital visits. We have been through job losses and job changes. We have lived in Texas and in Georgia. We have struggled with finances at times and other times had plenty. There have been days when we knew we loved each other but we didn’t quite like each other. So many different situations and circumstances over 45 years, but always God has provided.
As I was thinking about our marriage today my heart was heavy as I thought about all my friends and family who have lost a spouse, either to death or divorce. I cannot imagine. It made me cry realizing that I might not always be here for Wayne and he might not always be here for me, but what God spoke to my heart was that He will always be my provider.
If Wayne had not been there through all of the situations I spoke of, God still would have provided. His provision is not based on if I’m married, divorced, widowed or single. His provision is based on the fact that I am His and have given my life to Him. God always provides even in ways that I may not hope for or expect.
The challenge is to see His provision and care even when it is different than what I may have expected. We all struggle and go through many trials in this life. We may have sickness and not receive healing in this life, but in eternity we will receive perfect healing. We may pray earnestly and not see the answer to our greatest prayer in this life, but all our prayers will be answered in eternity. This life we live is fleeting, fragile and just a small breath in the scheme of things. In eternity all God’s provisions and care for us will ultimately make sense.
God is always providing and looking out for me and you whether we recognize it or not. I am sure you can say along with me that things don’t always go the way we think they should go. I am sure my friends and family who have had their life altered by death or divorce would say that is not what they had planned or the way they would want it to go. However, God is still their provider.
I am so thankful for my sweet husband and the years we have had together. I want to enjoy each and every moment with thankfulness and gratitude. I also want to never forget that God is my ultimate provider. He will take care of me no matter what my marital status is, where I am on my journey, and through every situation this life may send my way.
I am thankful for the example my family and friends who are walking a journey without their spouse have shown me. They are inspiring me as I see their dependence on God as their ultimate provider. God is good no matter road we are walking. I pray that God will continue to remind me that He places people in my life, He leads me, He loves me, and He is my Provider.
I am thankful for Wayne and the partnership we have in marriage. I am forever grateful that God has given us these years together. Our marriage is blessed not because of what we have done but because our marriage has strong roots that have been tested over time.
I pray we can always be mindful of Colossians 2:7: “Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” I want to give thanks to God and appreciate each day, praying we have many more days together. But most of all I want to be mindful that God is my provider, of all things, at all times, in every situation, in every scenario. He provides!
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Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and Georgian. She is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
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