Mark 10:2-9
“Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” “What did Moses command you?” he replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Additional Scripture References: Proverbs 11:14, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 15:22, Mark 6:31, James 1:19, Ephesians 4:32
It’s no secret that relationships don’t always go as planned. We might start with the best of intentions yet find ourselves far away from the path as time goes on. Whether you’re single, dating, divorced, or right on the brink of throwing in the towel, there are key principles we can take from scripture and apply to our current relationship journey. There are steps to take before calling it quits.
God takes our most painful moments and writes the most beautiful story
“I’ll figure it out myself” are the dying words of every relationship – this phrase limits us to our own wisdom when God has placed wise counsel all around us. While God’s word is what we should reach for first, there are additional resources available. Mentors, Christian therapists, books, conferences, or even retreats with our partner are great resources for adding wise counsel to our lives. Whatever we’re walking through, we can trust that God has given us what we need to overcome.
One of the most important things we can do in our relationships is to learn to communicate. The power of life and death lies in the tongue – but it’s not only what we say, it’s how we say it. There are right and wrong ways to share what’s on our mind and in our heart. Do our words build our partner up? Does our tone cut them down? What are we saying with our actions? No matter our relationship status, the way we communicate makes all the difference in building relationships that go the distance.
Marriage is not about solving one problem, it’s about two people resolving to solve problem after problem together. Before we throw in the towel, it’s worth considering the consequences of our decision – like a row of dominos, one choice impacts hundreds that follow. In a world that’s quick to call it quits, we can consecrate our marriage to God, putting our relationship in His hands. He takes the most painful moments and writes the most beautiful story.
No matter where you are on the journey of maturing in relationships, take some time this week to pray this prayer. Declare this truth over yourself, your spouse, your family, and your future with confidence, knowing that God is with you.
“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.” – Saint Patrick
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