February 4
Guarding Against
Jealousy
“Jealousy stirs up a husband’s anger. He will not have any mercy when he takes revenge.”
Proverbs 6:34 (NIrV)
Kenneth sat alone at the kitchen table, his hands gripping a mug of coffee that had long gone cold. His wife, Hannah, had just texted to say she’d be late again. “Work ran over,” she had explained, as it often did lately. And Kenneth knew why.
Hannah’s co-worker, Carl, was tall, confident, and charismatic—the kind of guy who seemed to light up a room. Kenneth couldn’t ignore how Hannah spoke about Carl: how hard he worked, how dedicated he was. He wasn’t sure she noticed, but Kenneth caught the admiration in her voice.
As the days passed, Kenneth’s mind became a battlefield. He started imagining things—Carl trying to woo Hannah, Hannah laughing at his jokes, Hannah choosing someone else over him. These thoughts consumed him, making him irritable and distant.
One evening, Hannah came home and found Kenneth sitting in the living room, scrolling through his phone with a scowl. “Hey,” she said gently, “what’s wrong?”
Kenneth hesitated, then blurted out, “Why don’t you just tell me what’s really going on with you and Carl?”
Hannah looked stunned. “Carl? What are you talking about?”
Kenneth’s voice rose. “You’re always working late with him! You talk about him like he’s some kind of hero. How am I supposed to feel?”
Hannah’s face softened. “Kenneth, I love you. Carl is just a co-worker. I admire his work ethic, sure, but that’s it. You have no reason to worry.”
After Hannah went to bed, Kenneth felt ashamed. He realized his jealousy wasn’t rooted in anything Hannah had done but in his own insecurities. The verse from Proverbs came to mind: “Jealousy stirs up a husband’s anger.” He saw how his jealousy had clouded his judgment and strained his relationship.
That night, Kenneth prayed: “Lord, help me let go of this jealousy. Teach me to trust Hannah and, more importantly, to trust You. Help me see my own worth through Your eyes and not compare myself to others.”
Over the next few weeks, Kenneth worked on rebuilding his trust. He and Hannah talked openly about their feelings, and Kenneth began to focus on being the husband God called him to be—kind, loving, and secure in the Lord’s plan for their marriage.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wisdom that helps us navigate our emotions.
Forgive us when jealousy blinds us and leads us to doubt the people we love.
Teach us to trust in You and to build our relationships on a foundation of love, patience, and understanding.
Help us to see our worth in Your eyes, not in comparison to others.
Thank You for being a God who restores and heals.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
