Reinforcing Faith in Marriage
In the United States alone, 40–50 percent of marriages end in divorce. What seems to be at the core of this social issue? Surely, not all marriages are worth saving. There are scenarios that necessitate divorce. For instance, when either the husband or the wife is abusive and puts the other in imminent danger, one should walk away without a guilty conscience. Indeed, marriage requires hard work from both husband and wife—and another key ingredient in any relationship: God. All marriages should be God-centered. What most of us forget after making our vows is that marriage is a sacred covenant between man, woman, and God. It is important then to make room for God in the relationship. When husband and wife go through the motions of life without acknowledging God, they are surely doomed, because the devil is tricky and knows exactly how to pull things apart no matter how beautiful they are in the beginning. Satan knows how to take advantage of even the smallest cracks in a marriage and magnify them out of proportion until, finally, both husband and wife couldn’t find their way back to the sacred vows they made. The devil may lurk behind a promising career and drain out the energy of either husband or wife so they would, at the end of a busy day, offer no interest, comfort, or pleasure to each other. Money too may be the devil in disguise when too much or too little of it becomes the center of the marriage, removing gratitude in the equation. Even kids and house chores do not escape the devil. He uses them to push husband and wife to their limit. Therefore, the person who does not anchor himself in God will struggle with the rigors of life. More so when two people of different backgrounds, opinions, and preferences are involved. The only way then for a marriage to flourish in grace and peace and prevent it from getting anywhere close to a divorce is to have a God-centered relationship. When both husband and wife find favor in the Lord, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?" (Ecclesiastes 4:9). When two people have a God-centered marriage, the world and all that is evil may try to take them apart, but they will find solace in the Lord and in his faithfulness. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things in all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Do not wait then for the marriage to turn sour before seeking out God and his graces. He should be present at all times in your married life—in fact, the very center of it. He should be the driving force that takes you through the day and the inspiration between all your interactions with your spouse. “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5–6). Read the full article