Taking the Marriage Plunge: Why Commitment Still Matters
In today’s culture of overthinking, swiping, and fear of missing out, many Christian singles view marriage as too risky. But Lynette Kittle reminds us that God's design for marriage is not based on feelings or flawless partners—it’s rooted in faith, courage, and self-sacrifice, just as Christ laid down His life for the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Whether you’re navigating modern Christian dating or wrestling with the fear of commitment, this devotional offers a fresh and faithful perspective on why marriage is still worth the plunge.

✨ Highlights


✅ Christian marriage isn’t about finding the “perfect” person, but being willing to trust God through the unknown.


✅ Fear of commitment and the “what-ifs” can keep many from embracing God's purpose for marriage.


✅ WWII couples embraced marriage even in crisis—proving love often requires sacrifice over certainty.


✅ Ephesians 5:25 calls husbands to love sacrificially—marriage is spiritual warfare, not emotional convenience.


✅ In a culture that fears lifelong decisions, trusting God in marriage is a powerful act of obedience.

💬 Join the Conversation

Has fear of the unknown held you back from marriage?
Share how God is shaping your heart toward commitment and faith-filled relationships. Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #MarriageIsWorthThePlunge and join others who are choosing to trust God's vision for love and lifelong partnership.

🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer

🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts:Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Full Transcript Below:

Taking the Marriage Plunge

By Lynette Kittle

 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her”-- Ephesians 5:25

Marriage seemed easier to attain decades ago, when high school sweethearts couldn’t wait to take the giant plunge into Holy Matrimony after graduation. 

Young, hopeful, and optimistic, they weren’t really considering all that could go wrong in a marriage, or thinking of the fears and changes that could occur. They just fearlessly took the plunge into it free from over-thinking it and the heaviness of countless “what ifs.”

Also, during WWII, soldiers facing going to war, took the plunge and had the opportunity to wed their sweethearts before shipping out and thank goodness they did, too, or many of us wouldn’t be here today.

Their heartfelt choices to marry before going off to fight helped to keep our nation growing and moving forward, because although thousands of young men would never return from battle, losing their lives in war, many still live on through their wives and children left behind.

Marriage Is for Risk Takers

Sadly, it seems nowadays, marriage is too risky of a union for many singles who over-think and fear how it could go wrong, trying to figure out the worst-case scenarios, keeping individuals at a distance from the very thought of saying “I do.”

It’s paralyzing to countless singles, men and women afraid of missing out or choosing the wrong person, fearful of discovering a spouse isn’t as perfect as they first thought and reluctant to face the unknowns of unexpected struggles and difficulties. They want a sure-fire guarantee that their spouse-to-be is the “right one” and will remain who they think they are in the moment. 

As well, having the world at our fingertips has proven to be a bit overwhelming, with the possibility of finding a mate on the other side of the earth through social media, along with the available endless singles showing up daily on online dating sites, as well as the opportunity to swipe a new date multiple times a day.

This global broadening of the dating pool, with the lookout for the next best girl or guy, is keeping men and women from committing, fearful of missing out on their dream person who might just be out there somewhere.

Trending Plunges

Although individuals clamored to join others around the world to take the “cold water plunge,” an act supposedly proving how gutsy and brave they are, are still running the other direction when it comes to taking the marriage plunge. 

During WWII, marriage was trendy because it was fueled by thousands of men facing the possibility of going to war and facing death. In comparison, the risk of marriage seemed far less risky than the risks of war.

Still, the commitment to marriage and war seems similar, in that, both in wartime and holy matrimony, men are called on to give their all, including their lives, as the Apostle Paul explains in Ephesians 5:25 calling husbands to love their wives just like Christ loved the Church and laid down His life for her.

Men giving up their lives for their wives began in the Garden of Eden, as explained in Genesis 2:24. “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Both in wartime and marriage, men are motivated to sacrifice themselves for love, to preserve and hold onto their countries or their marriages, both well worth fighting the battles, enduring the wounds, and triumphing over the struggles.

Interestingly, in looking at history and human behavior, there seems to be a correlation between a culture willing to fight for their country and willing to take the marriage plunge, both based on men being willing to lay down their lives.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  If single, are you dodging taking the plunge of marriage based on fear of the unknown and the changes it will bring to your life? If so, ask God to calm your fears and to help you be willing to give up your life in marriage. Seek to trust God in His creation of marriage and be willing to take the plunge.

Further Reading: 7 Things Marriage Isn’t

https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/7-things-marriage-isnt.html

Taking the Marriage Plunge: Why Commitment Still Matters In today&rsquo;s culture of overthinking, swiping, and fear of missing out, many Christian singles view marriage as too risky. But Lynette Kittle reminds us that God's design for marriage is not based on feelings or flawless partners&mdash;it&rsquo;s rooted in faith, courage, and self-sacrifice, just as Christ laid down His life for the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Whether you&rsquo;re navigating modern Christian dating or wrestling with the fear of commitment, this devotional offers a fresh and faithful perspective on why marriage is still worth the plunge.
<hr data-start="862" data-end="865">
✨ Highlights
<ul data-start="890" data-end="1456">
<li data-start="890" data-end="1012">
✅ Christian marriage isn&rsquo;t about finding the &ldquo;perfect&rdquo; person, but being willing to trust God through the unknown.
</li>
<li data-start="1013" data-end="1117">
✅ Fear of commitment and the &ldquo;what-ifs&rdquo; can keep many from embracing God's purpose for marriage.
</li>
<li data-start="1118" data-end="1227">
✅ WWII couples embraced marriage even in crisis&mdash;proving love often requires sacrifice over certainty.
</li>
<li data-start="1228" data-end="1347">
✅ Ephesians 5:25 calls husbands to love sacrificially&mdash;marriage is spiritual warfare, not emotional convenience.
</li>
<li data-start="1348" data-end="1456">
✅ In a culture that fears lifelong decisions, trusting God in marriage is a powerful act of obedience.
</li>
</ul>
<hr data-start="1458" data-end="1461">
💬 Join the Conversation
Has fear of the unknown held you back from marriage? Share how God is shaping your heart toward commitment and faith-filled relationships. Tag @LifeaudioNetwork with #MarriageIsWorthThePlunge and join others who are choosing to trust God's vision for love and lifelong partnership.
🎙🎶&nbsp;SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW &mdash; <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/">Your Nightly Prayer</a>
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Taking the Marriage Plunge
By Lynette Kittle
&nbsp;&ldquo;Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her&rdquo;-- Ephesians 5:25
Marriage seemed easier to attain decades ago, when high school sweethearts couldn&rsquo;t wait to take the giant plunge into Holy Matrimony after graduation.&nbsp;
Young, hopeful, and optimistic, they weren&rsquo;t really considering all that could go wrong in a marriage, or thinking of the fears and changes that could occur. They just fearlessly took the plunge into it free from over-thinking it and the heaviness of countless &ldquo;what ifs.&rdquo;
Also, during WWII, soldiers facing going to war, took the plunge and had the opportunity to wed their sweethearts before shipping out and thank goodness they did, too, or many of us wouldn&rsquo;t be here today.
Their heartfelt choices to marry before going off to fight helped to keep our nation growing and moving forward, because although thousands of young men would never return from battle, losing their lives in war, many still live on through their wives and children left behind.
Marriage Is for Risk Takers
Sadly, it seems nowadays, marriage is too risky of a union for many singles who over-think and fear how it could go wrong, trying to figure out the worst-case scenarios, keeping individuals at a distance from the very thought of saying &ldquo;I do.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s paralyzing to countless singles, men and women afraid of missing out or choosing the wrong person, fearful of discovering a spouse isn&rsquo;t as perfect as they first thought and reluctant to face the unknowns of unexpected struggles and difficulties. They want a sure-fire guarantee that their spouse-to-be is the &ldquo;right one&rdquo; and will remain who they think they are in the moment.&nbsp;
As well, having the world at our fingertips has proven to be a bit overwhelming, with the possibility of finding a mate on the other side of the earth through social media, along with the available endless singles showing up daily on online dating sites, as well as the opportunity to swipe a new date multiple times a day.
This global broadening of the dating pool, with the lookout for the next best girl or guy, is keeping men and women from committing, fearful of missing out on their dream person who might just be out there somewhere.
Trending Plunges
Although individuals clamored to join others around the world to take the &ldquo;cold water plunge,&rdquo; an act supposedly proving how gutsy and brave they are, are still running the other direction when it comes to taking the marriage plunge.&nbsp;
During WWII, marriage was trendy because it was fueled by thousands of men facing the possibility of going to war and facing death. In comparison, the risk of marriage seemed far less risky than the risks of war.
Still, the commitment to marriage and war seems similar, in that, both in wartime and holy matrimony, men are called on to give their all, including their lives, as the Apostle Paul explains in Ephesians 5:25 calling husbands to love their wives just like Christ loved the Church and laid down His life for her.
Men giving up their lives for their wives began in the Garden of Eden, as explained in Genesis 2:24. &ldquo;That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.&rdquo;
Both in wartime and marriage, men are motivated to sacrifice themselves for love, to preserve and hold onto their countries or their marriages, both well worth fighting the battles, enduring the wounds, and triumphing over the struggles.
Interestingly, in looking at history and human behavior, there seems to be a correlation between a culture willing to fight for their country and willing to take the marriage plunge, both based on men being willing to lay down their lives.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:&nbsp; If single, are you dodging taking the plunge of marriage based on fear of the unknown and the changes it will bring to your life? If so, ask God to calm your fears and to help you be willing to give up your life in marriage. Seek to trust God in His creation of marriage and be willing to take the plunge.
Further Reading: 7 Things Marriage Isn&rsquo;t
https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/7-things-marriage-isnt.html

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

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