Formed for Love: The Refining Journey of a Godly Wife
Sharing a SNEAK PEEK into a new Bible Study I am working on!!
What started out as being roughly a 12-week study plan has grown substantially in order to capture all the biblical intricacies that are contained in marriage.
Im sharing the first 2 weeks of outlines for you! I hope to have this study done in the near future and will definitely share it when it is complete!
May you be BLESSED!
Love in Christ
WEEK 1: God’s Original Design for Marriage
Theme: Before sin entered the world, God created marriage as a sacred, spiritual covenant between man, woman, and Himself. It was never a contract—it was always meant to reflect His nature, His order, and His unity.
Key Scriptures
• Genesis 2:18–25 – God creates woman from man’s rib and establishes the first marriage
• Ephesians 5:31–32 – Paul reveals the divine mystery of marriage
• Genesis 1:27–28 – Male and female created in God’s image, blessed to multiply
Key Word Study
• Ezer Kenegdo (Genesis 2:18)
Ezer = helper, strength, deliverer (used of God in other Scriptures)
Kenegdo = corresponding to, face-to-face, equal counterpart
Together: “a strong ally who stands beside”
• Dabaq (Genesis 2:24 – “to cleave” or “be joined”)Hebrew: to cling, stay close, remain in loyal union
Main Teaching Points:
Marriage Originated with God, Not Man
Marriage was not created by a government or a cultural structure. It was formed in the heart of God and established in Eden—before sin, shame, or society ever touched it. Genesis 2 shows that God Himself initiated the first union, forming the woman and presenting her to the man.
Marriage is not a casual arrangement. It is a covenant—a sacred, spiritual bond sealed before God.
Covenant vs. Contract: What’s the Difference?
Contract (World’s View):
• Legal agreement between two parties
• Based on performance and personal benefit
• Conditional and temporary
• Can be dissolved when one side fails
Covenant (God’s Design):
• Sacred promise made with God as witness
• Based on love, sacrifice, and commitment
• Enduring, spiritual, and binding
• Motivated by honor and unity
Marriage is not ours to redefine. It belongs to the One who designed it—and He designed it as covenant.
1.The Wife Was Created to Stand Beside, Not Beneath
Genesis 2:22 says God formed the woman from the man’s rib—not his head, to rule over him, and not his feet, to be trampled on—but from his side, close to his heart and under his arm. This wasn’t just symbolic—it was prophetic. She was meant to walk with him, not behind him, above him, or beneath him.
The Hebrew phrase ezer kenegdo (Genesis 2:18) is often translated “helper suitable,” but that English phrase misses the weight and strength of the original language.
• Ezer = strong help, warrior-level ally (used to describe God in Deut. 33:29, Psalm 33:20)
• Kenegdo = counterpart, equal and corresponding, face-to-face
Eve wasn’t made to assist Adam’s ego. She was created to strengthen, support, and stand with him in full capacity and dignity. She was God’s final touch on creation—not an afterthought, but the completion of His divine design.
A godly wife is not lesser—she is vital. She is not optional—she is intentional. She is a reflection of God’s own strength and nearness.
2.Oneness Was the Goal from the Beginning
Genesis 2:24 declares, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse is God’s blueprint for intimacy and union: full fusion, not temporary connection.
The Hebrew word dabaq (translated “hold fast” or “cleave”) means:
• To cling to
• To pursue with deep affection
• To be bonded together permanently
Marriage was never meant to be a half-hearted partnership or a cohabitation of convenience. It was designed to be a whole-life merging of two souls, bodies, and spirits—a union so deep that the two become one in purpose, power, and passion.
This oneness mirrors God’s desire to be one with His people—seen most clearly in Christ’s union with the Church (Ephesians 5:32). Oneness isn’t the erasing of individuality; it’s the alignment of two distinct identities into one sacred mission.
Marriage isn’t about losing who you are—it’s about becoming who you were meant to be, together.
3. Marriage Reflects God’s Character and Blessing
From the very beginning, marriage carried God’s blessing and divine imprint. Genesis 1:28 tells us that when God created male and female, He blessed them and gave them a shared purpose: to multiply, to rule, and to reflect His image in the world.
Marriage is more than companionship or romantic fulfillment. It is a living testimony of God’s creative power, His divine order, and His deep relational nature. Every aspect of a godly marriage—sacrifice, patience, forgiveness, unity—is meant to point back to who God is.
Ephesians 5:31–32 calls marriage a “profound mystery” that mirrors the relationship between Christ and the Church. When we love, honor, serve, and walk in covenant with our spouse, we’re showing the world how God loves us.
Marriage isn’t just about happiness—it’s about holiness. It’s about reflecting a God who keeps covenant even when it costs everything.
4.Your Husband Comes Before Everyone Else—Even Your Children
In God’s design, the marriage covenant takes relational priority over every other human connection. Genesis 2:24 sets the pattern: “A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife.”
This “holding fast” (dabaq) implies exclusive loyalty and lifelong commitment. Your husband is your first earthly priority—above children, parents, and even ministry.
Titus 2:4 reinforces this: “Teach the younger women to love their husbands and children.” The order matters.
Matthew 22:37–39 commands us to love God first—and then others. Your spouse is your closest “other.”
Ephesians 5:31 reminds us that you are “one flesh” with your husband.
Loving your husband first doesn’t neglect your children—it protects them by securing the foundation of your home.
Reflection & Discussion Questions
Do I view marriage as something designed by God, or shaped by culture?
What does the term “ezer kenegdo” stir in me about my role as a wife?
How can I begin to live in deeper unity with my spouse—emotionally, spiritually, and practically?
What does it mean for me to treat my marriage as a covenant rather than a conditional agreement?
Action Step
Write a declaration or prayer committing to view your marriage (or future marriage) through the lens of covenant. Ask God to help you walk in the design He created—not what the world expects or experience has shaped.
WEEK 2: The Trinity and the Marriage Covenant
Theme: God designed marriage to reflect His own nature—three persons in one divine unity. In the same way, the marriage covenant involves a unity of three: God, husband, and wife. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit operate in perfect love, order, and harmony, so too is our marriage meant to reflect that unity.
Key Scriptures
• Matthew 28:19 – “...baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
• Ephesians 5:31–32 – “...and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”
• John 17:21 – “...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you...”
• Ecclesiastes 4:12 – “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
• Genesis 1:26–27 – “Let us make man in our image...”
Keyword Study
• Echad (אֶחָד) – Hebrew for “one”
Definition: Compound unity; not singular but united in essence
Relevance: Used in Deuteronomy 6:4 and Genesis 2:24, symbolizing unified oneness in diversity—like the Trinity and marriage.
• Koinonia (κοινωνία) – Greek for “fellowship” or “communion”
Definition: Intimate participation, shared contribution, partnership
Relevance: Describes the divine relational closeness within the Trinity and the intimacy intended for covenant marriage.
• Sumbiosis (συμβίωσις) – Greek for “living together”
Definition: Shared life; union of purpose and identity
Relevance: Though not used directly in Scripture, it captures the concept of symbiotic union found in a God-centered marriage.
Main Teaching Points:
1.God Himself Exists in Covenant
God is not a solitary being—He is a triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is a perfect relationship of unity, mutual submission, shared authority, and unbreakable love. They are three distinct persons, yet one in nature, will, and purpose.
Genesis 1:26 gives us a glimpse into this mystery: “Let us make man in our image.” Marriage was created in that same image: two distinct people brought together as one—by and with God.
If the Trinity is the original covenant, then marriage is a reflection of divine oneness.
2.Marriage is a Threefold Covenant: God, Husband, and Wife
Marriage isn’t a partnership between two people alone. It is a covenant of three:
• God is the Creator of the covenant
• The husband is the head of the union (Ephesians 5:23)
• The wife is the glory of the man (1 Corinthians 11:7)
Without God at the center, marriage is vulnerable to collapse. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us: “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
If your marriage feels frayed, it may be because God has been treated like a side note rather than the central cord.
3.The Trinity Models Mutual Submission and Divine Order
There is no competition within the Godhead. The Son submits to the Father (John 5:19), the Spirit glorifies the Son (John 16:14), and all three work in perfect unity.
This divine model teaches us that:
• Submission isn’t weakness—it’s spiritual alignment
• Headship isn’t control—it’s Christlike responsibility
• Glory isn’t vanity—it’s the beauty of purpose in harmony
The world says “equality is sameness.” But in God’s design, equality is unity within divine order.
4.God is the Only One Who Can Truly Unite a Marriage
Jesus declared in Matthew 19:6, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Marriage is not held together by human strength or romantic feelings. It is held together by the God who joins it.
God must be the glue, the governing presence, and the grace that keeps the covenant intact.
Letting God “join” your marriage isn’t about the wedding ceremony—it’s about daily surrender to His lordship in:
• Communication
• Intimacy
• Conflict
• Vision
• Unity
Only God can take two flawed individuals and form something holy, unified, and enduring.
Reflection & Discussion Questions
How does the unity of the Trinity challenge your current understanding of marriage?
Do you view your marriage as a covenant of three—or just two? Where has God been center, and where has He been sidelined?
How can you and your spouse model mutual submission and divine order?
What internal fears or past wounds make it hard to embrace headship and submission?
In what ways has culture redefined marriage in your thinking? How can God’s Word reshape your view?
Action Item: Recenter Your Covenant
Write a short “Covenant of Three” commitment statement to God. Whether alone or with your spouse, intentionally recommit your marriage to reflect the unity and presence of the Trinity. Include:
• One area where you’ve excluded God
• One way you’ll invite Him back in
• A declaration that He is the center and sustainer of your marriage
Place it somewhere visible as a daily reminder: This marriage is not built on two—it’s built on Three.
