Biblical Answer

What fuels our passion when love feels like a distant memory?

The fuel for passion in a marriage is not just romantic feelings, but a deeper connection with God. The Bible says that a mutual love relationship with Yahweh is the engine that powers the response of obedience (The Promise of Future Love). This means that when we are connected with God, we are more likely to be passionate about our relationship with our spouse. The key to this connection is memory, which is the fuel that powers our passion. As Blair points out, both Old and New Testaments motivate by two mental activities: hope and memory (Blair). This means that when we remember God's love and promises, we are more likely to be passionate about our relationship with our spouse.

When we are not connected with God, our passion can fade, and we may feel like love is a distant memory. This is because our love is no longer driven by a deeper connection with God, but by external factors such as romantic feelings. However, when we are connected with God, our passion is fueled by a sense of longing for Him. This longing is different from sexual eros, but is connected with it at a deep level. It is a sense of nostalgia or homesickness for something deeper and more meaningful. This longing is what drives us to cultivate our relationship with our spouse and to be passionate about it.

In order to fuel our passion when love feels like a distant memory, we need to focus on cultivating our relationship with God. This means spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, and remembering God's love and promises. As we do this, we will be more likely to experience a sense of longing for God, which will fuel our passion for our spouse. This is not just a romantic feeling, but a deeper connection with God that will drive us to be passionate about our relationship with our spouse. By focusing on our relationship with God, we can overcome the obstacles to passion in our marriage and experience a deeper and more meaningful connection with our spouse.