The Differences Between Men & Women: Finding Harmony in God’s Design

This is a multi-part series. Installments will be posted each Monday and Wednesday.

Men and women are different, and their differences are not
just physical. It is important to be aware of a few basic areas where the sexes
differ from each other, as failure to recognize these can cause unnecessary
problems in your marriage.

First, men and women think differently. This is part
of how God made us. Generally speaking (buckle up, because there are many
generalizations coming in this paragraph), men think analytically, and women
think intuitively, although sometimes women can do both. Women have multitrack
minds and can juggle many issues at once. Women are more likely than men to
think in circles, and consequently are more prone to anxiety. Women are also
more likely to think emotionally rather than logically.

The problem comes when men think that women are being
illogical or not thinking right because they are thinking differently;
or when women assume that a man’s analytical thinking is insensitive or cold.
This can cause a relationship to become adversarial. Men and women should not
fall into the trap of judging the other for the way they think. Instead, we
should both focus on how we can be complementary. We are designed by God
to work together.

Intuition can be a blessing, but we take it too far when we
use it to attribute motives. Do not assume that you know what someone else is
thinking or why someone else did something. Also, women should beware of
thinking that men are intuitive—we aren’t. We cannot be unless we learn how. Do
not be upset at your husband because he can’t be intuitive. That’s a setup from
the Enemy. Don’t assume that he knows what you need, or you are setting
yourself up to take offense when he fails to meet the need. Be kind to him:
when you need something, if you know what you need, tell him. Husbands, study
your wives. God has given you the responsibility to provide for and protect
her; learn to anticipate her needs out of love for her.

(To be continued.)