Where do you find your true identity—in your spouse, your past, or in Christ alone? And what happens to your marriage when both partners understand who they are in Him first?
In this episode, we tackle the identity crisis many marriages face today. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation," we explore how understanding our identity in Christ transforms everything about our marriage.
We share candidly about the baggage we brought into our marriage—Teddy's divorce, Maya's family history, and cultural patterns we had to break free from. We discuss how we both struggled with letting our pasts define us, but chose early on to never use the word "divorce" and to build something different than what we'd seen modeled.
The core message: your spouse cannot be your savior. We confess how Maya idolized Teddy early in marriage, looking to him to fill needs only Christ could meet. We address the "Jerry Maguire" lie—"you complete me"—explaining that biblical oneness isn't about losing yourself or being completed by another person, but two whole, Christ-centered people coming together in covenant.
We break down key identity truths: you are chosen and loved (Ephesians 1:4), you have redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:7), there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), and you are complete in Christ alone (Colossians 2:10). We explain how confession in marriage is pure honesty and vulnerability, not just seeking an apology.
Addressing the identity crisis in roles, we discuss how husbands are called to be prophet, priest, and king—hearing from God and leading their families. Wives are the "Ezer" (helper), the same word used for God as our helper, coming alongside to encourage, pray, and strengthen. We emphasize that wives can't properly submit and husbands can't properly lead unless both know their identity in Christ first.
Strong marriages are built on two people who first belong to Jesus.
If you would like prayer for your marriage or anything at all, email us at everydayidopod@gmail.com. We would love to pray for you and be an encouragement! You can also message us on Instagram at everyday_i_do_podcast.