Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord? {Marriage Part 1}

Marriage and Divorce.

It's a hot topic.

Not just in the world today.

But among Christians also.

And this is nothing new.

It was a hot topic 2,000+ years ago when Jesus walked this earth also.

**I apologize in advance if MY words are offensive, as this is one issue my husband and I are VERY passionate about, and I tend to get a bit worked up about it. However, I will not apologize for The Word of God, and that is solely what I hope to use to explain this burden on my heart.

The current divorce rate is HIGH. While there is a slight difference between Christians and non-Christians, it is certainly not a difference worth bragging about. Let's face it...we are a selfish people! As believers in Christ, we attempt to subdue that selfishness, but it is a constant struggle nonetheless.

And divorce is almost always a result of some form of selfishness!

In Mark 10, we read about Jesus being tested by the Pharisees regarding this very issue.

"The Pharisees came and asked Him, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?' testing Him.

And He answered and said to them, 'What did Moses command you?'

They said, 'Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.'

And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.'

In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, 'Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.'"

Mark 10:2-12

People get divorced for several different reasons. Some are hardly understandable, but the spouse(s) will justify it as a reason nonetheless. I am not here to judge anyone. I only wish to shed some Truth on the ever increasing poison that is destroying families.

"But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit?

And why one?

He seeks godly offspring.

Therefore take heed to your spirit,

and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

'For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce,

for it covers one's garment with violence,' says the LORD of hosts.

'Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.'"

Malachi 2:15-16

God's Word is so simple. Yet we mange to mess it all up. The Truth is very clear here, GOD HATES DIVORCE!

The Bible does not say God hates divorce except when...

So then why do we feel authorized to make such exceptions?

Our Creator has a plan. He has had one since the beginning. That plan is not dependent on our circumstances. But rather, that plan is in light of our circumstances. God desires to work all things together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans. 8:28).

So the unfaithful husband, the lying wife, the selfish spouse, the "irreconcilable differences"...

God desires to work ALL THINGS together for GOOD.

The unloving husband, the disrespectful wife, the bitter-to-the-core spouse...

God desires to work ALL THINGS together for GOOD.

"But how can I love a man and stay married to him after he has cheated on me?"

"How can I trust her after all the lies?"

"He doesn't love me, he is so distant."

"All she does is nag, nag, nag!"

God desires to work ALL THINGS together for GOOD!

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord.

'For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are My ways higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

Isaiah 55:8-9

Even though we don't understand, even though it is the unnatural reaction, even though it would be much easier the other way, as His children, God commands our obedience.

He is faithful even when your husband is not.

He is Truth even when your wife is full of lies.

He is 100% selfless and giving even when your spouse is incredibly selfish.

He can reconcile ALL THINGS for GOOD even when we feel everything is irreconcilable.

He is LOVE even when your husband shows none.

He has created you in His image even when your wife does not respect you.

He is peace when your spouse's bitterness seems to have no end.

His grace is always sufficient; He is perfect strength when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:9).

If you are His child, He has a plan for you. He has a plan for your spouse. He has a plan for your marriage. And God HATES divorce. His plan involves reconciliation, forgiveness, sacrifice, self-denial, unconditional love, patience, longsuffering, gentleness, and humility.

"With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ~Matthew 19:26

Don't try to fix things on your own.

His plan DOES NOT involve divorce.

Remember, God HATES divorce!

Seek the Lord, He is able.

God wants to bring healing and restoration to your marriage, even in the most "hopeless and helpless" situations. He wants to grow hearts of forgiveness. He wants to give you and your spouse a heart like His, one full of unconditional love and sympathy and longsuffering and patience. He wants to teach you humility and illuminate your ultimate need for Him. He wants to create opportunities for you to blanket one another with grace and mercy as He has blanketed each of us a million times over.

He wants to turn your mourning into dancing and clothe you with gladness that the glory that shines forth as a result may sing His praises and not be silent (Psalm 30:11-12).

God wants to raise up the beauty of your restored marriage from the ashes and anoint you and your spouse with the oil of gladness, that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3).

God wants to do a mighty work in your marriage. Divorce is our way of saying God cannot fix "this". He is not able. I know He is God, but He is not God "enough" for this.

Oh, today that you would believe that HE IS GOD! That you would trust Him to be God, especially during the difficult times. That you would know without a doubt that He binds up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1).

From the beginning He designed us to be male and female, and to become one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.

If you, or someone you know, are a believer and are presently in a difficult marriage, or have contemplated divorce, or have felt like your marriage is "too difficult"...

May you take comfort in God's Truth:

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" ~Genesis 18:14

He is able.

Are you willing?

Will you choose today to obey the Father instead of give way to your "feelings"? Will you follow God's will and not man's? Will you allow Him to lavish His grace and healing upon you and your spouse? Will you be transformed by His Word and opened to His mighty working power? Will you give Your Creator the opportunity to grow your marriage into a beautiful masterpiece of His design? Will you yield to His will and trust in His faithfulness and be blessed by His exceedingly abundant grace?

I am linking up this post with Titus2Tuesdays.

***This post is Part 1 of a short series to follow. Please join me for Part 2 (coming soon), when I share the amazing work God has done in my marriage, by His grace, for His glory. "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble."~Psalm 107:1-2.