Suzie Nava is a newly-wed. As a newly wed she's been going through a lot of change. She's in an entirely different culture! Though she is far, she and her husband are part of our church family, and thought I'd ask her to write about what she is learning out there in La Paz. Here is her encouraging post!
I am a beyond blessed newly-wed to the man of my dreams. I enjoy every moment of it, even its challenging times, but have much to learn on this new journey of ours. My husband and I have temporarily moved to La Paz, Mexico, where I desperately needed to learn/practice my Spanish speaking skills, as it my major in college. However, along with this move and being married I underwent a lot of change in environment and culture simultaneously. As a result, I encountered some difficulties such as learning how and what it means to be a wife (which it’s a process), learning to cook, adjusting to the Mexican culture and language barrier, making friendships and finding community, as well as being productive with my time.
During this time I have been up and down in emotions, yet my husband has been so patient and tender in meeting my needs and helping me to adjust, which just radiates Jesus to me, constantly directing me to Jesus and His sanctifying grace. What an incredible role God has blessed us with in being a husband or wife to be an example to world of God’s perfect love and faithfulness to His people and honoring us to mirror this sweet relationship (Ephesians 5:22-33). But at the same time I have to be careful to not make my husband my savior or idol and be sure to keep my eyes fixed on the true Savior, Jesus, knowing that He is the only one who will never disappoint me.
And so this brings me to worship and had to ask myself, where is my worship rooted? In What Did You Expect Paul David Tripp discusses worship as “ you attach your identity, your meaning and purpose, and your inner sense of well-being to something” and further explains that we either get these things horizontally (from creation) or vertically (from our Creator and Father in Heaven). And so this challenged me in checking whom and where I was placing my worship—on the temporary circumstances, my husband, appearance, etc—instead of focusing on the truth and sweet joy of Jesus. Our sin, well my sin, causes me to focus on myself and make me concerned most for myself, yet we are to “no longer live for [ourselves], but for him who died for [us] and [rose] again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Thankfully God’s grace brings myself to an end in living for the flesh, my selfishness, and into an identity in Christ, making my meaning and purpose to rest in Him. And through this truth, daily I am able to rest in Christ’s love and learn to love my husband, adjust to change, and make every opportunity a chance to reflect His love to others.
Through the past months I have learned many things like how to be a better wife (and taking joy in every part—even cleaning) and creating a strong deep foundation for our marriage with Jesus being the center. I have come to be so grateful for what I have, taking the littlest things for granted like hot water and embracing a much more simple life as do the citizens here in La Paz do. Or being vulnerable in making friendships and even speaking Spanish when I am out and about, instead of always relying on my husband : ) But thankful to say that I am close to being fluent—it’s just a matter of stepping outside my comfort zone. And of course learning to trust in the Lord always (2 Corinthians 3:14). Yet, like I mentioned above it is still indeed a process, and I am learning to pick up my cross daily. Many blessings!
