The house was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of trees outside the window and the soft creak of the wooden floor beneath Nicholas's knees. It was late—well past midnight—but sleep hadn't come to him. Instead, he found himself in his usual place during these moments: the corner of your shared bedroom, where a small chair and a well-worn Bible rested beside a flickering candle.
Nicholas ran a hand through his dark hair, leaning forward, his elbows pressed to his thighs as he looked upward. His heart was full, as it so often was when he thought about you, but tonight, it also held an ache he couldn't quite describe.
He clasped his hands together and closed his eyes.
"Lord," he began, his voice low and steady, "I come to You tonight because I need Your guidance. I need Your help."
He paused, his thoughts swirling.
"You've blessed me with so much," he continued, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "A life I never imagined, a love I don't deserve, and the most incredible woman to call my wife. God, I know You brought her into my life for a reason, and I'm so grateful. But I need You to teach me how to love her the way You designed love to be."
His voice trembled slightly as he went on. "I know I get things wrong sometimes. I know I'm not perfect. But, God, I want to be the husband she deserves. The kind of man who leads her closer to You, not further away. Help me love her with patience, kindness, and humility. Help me to put her needs above my own, even when it's hard. Help me to see her the way You see her—beautiful, cherished, and worth every sacrifice."
Nicholas exhaled slowly, the weight of his emotions filling the quiet room. He thought back to the little moments that made up your life together—the way you laughed when he teased you, the gentle touch of your hand when you prayed together, the way you leaned on him when life felt heavy.
"She's everything to me, Lord," he whispered. "But I know she's Yours first. Remind me of that, always. Remind me that my job isn't just to love her, but to point her to You in everything we do."
As he finished praying, Nicholas sat back in the chair, letting the silence settle over him. His heart felt lighter, as it always did when he poured his burdens out to God. He reached for his Bible, flipping to a bookmarked passage in Ephesians:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her..."
He read the words slowly, letting them sink in. Christ's love was sacrificial, selfless, and unwavering—the kind of love Nicholas wanted to embody every day of his life with you.
Just as he closed the Bible, he heard the soft sound of your voice.
"Nicholas?"
He turned to see you standing in the doorway, wrapped in one of his oversized sweaters. Your hair was tousled from sleep, and your eyes were warm but curious as you stepped closer.
"What are you doing up?" you asked gently, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Nicholas smiled, reaching for your hand and tugging you toward him. "Just talking to God," he said softly.
Your gaze softened as you took a seat beside him, resting your head on his shoulder. "Everything okay?"
"Everything's more than okay," he assured you. "I was just... praying about how to love you better."
Your head lifted, surprise flickering across your face. "Love me better? Nicholas, you're already the most incredible husband. You're thoughtful, patient, and so kind. Why would you think you need to do more?"
Nicholas cupped your face with one hand, his thumb brushing over your cheek. "Because loving you isn't about checking boxes or doing the bare minimum. It's about honoring the promise I made before God and making sure every part of our marriage is built on Him. I want to love you like Christ loves the church—with everything I have, every day."
Tears pricked your eyes at his words. "You do, Nicholas. I see God's love in everything you do for me, in the way you pray with me, in the way you encourage me. You already lead this marriage with Christ at the center."
He shook his head lightly, a small smile on his lips. "I'm trying, but I know I'll never get it perfectly right. That's why I prayed—for Him to guide me, for Him to show me how to be better for you. Because I don't ever want to take this for granted. I don't ever want to take you for granted."
You wrapped your arms around him, holding him tightly. "You have no idea how much that means to me," you murmured against his shoulder. "To know that you're praying for us, for our marriage—it's everything I could ever ask for."
Nicholas kissed the top of your head, his arms circling around you as he pulled you close. "It's not just about us," he said softly. "It's about making sure everything we do reflects Him. Our love, our decisions, the way we treat each other—it's all for His glory."
You pulled back slightly to meet his gaze, your hands resting against his chest. "Then let's pray together," you said.
His smile widened, and he nodded, taking your hands in his. Together, you bowed your heads, and Nicholas began to pray.
"Lord, thank You for this gift of marriage, for this incredible woman You've placed in my life. Thank You for teaching us how to love through Your Word and for being the foundation we can always rely on. We ask that You continue to guide us, to strengthen our bond, and to help us honor You in everything we do. Teach us to forgive quickly, to love selflessly, and to serve each other with joy. May our relationship always reflect Your grace and bring glory to Your name. Amen."
When he finished, you opened your eyes to find him watching you, his expression tender.
"I love you," he said simply, the depth of his words wrapping around your heart.
"I love you, too," you replied, leaning in to kiss him.
As you curled up together in bed that night, your head resting on his chest, you felt a peace that could only come from God. With Nicholas by your side and Christ as the center of your marriage, you knew you had everything you needed.
