Looking back at the day you said your vows, you thought the word divorce would never be said, heard, or thought of. But now you are trying to understand how and why this is happening, what changed? You are feeling mixed emotions of anger, guilt, grief and rejection. The divorce may not have been your decision and you are wondering if there is someone else involved with your spouse or if you done something wrong and can't figure out what it is.
If you are in the process of a divorce, this is a time for you to grow and understand, to give your worries to Jesus and believe that He will continue to walk by your side. Don't give up! Joseph never gave up when his brothers sold him into slavery or when he was accused of sleeping with Potifers wife and then thrown into prison. Job never gave up when he lost his health, wealth and family. God was with them just as He will be with you.
God's intention of marriage was for a man and a woman to live together forever. Unfortunately, in Moses's time, the practice of marriage was far short of God's intention. Moses gave a law of divorce to the people only because of the people's hard hearts (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). This law was to prevent casual remarriage after a frivolous separation. This law did not support divorce but simply recognized a practice that already existed. The law was to make the people think twice before divorce.
Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for any reason?
We can find the answer to this in Matthew 19:3-9. Jesus was faced with this same question.
3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap Him with this question: Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for any reason?
4 "Haven't you read the Scriptures? They record from the beginning God made them male and female. 5 And he said. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together. 9 And I tell you this, a man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, unless his wife has been unfaithful.
Jesus also tells us that there are reasons for not marrying. For instance, you will be able to put more time in for the Kingdom of Heaven if you are single. Then he tells us to think and pray to make sure we make the right decision.
In some instances, during a marriage, the husband or wife may become a Christian and the spouse is still unsaved. Christ tells us;
2 Corinthians 6:14. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" If this happens, Paul gives us this message: 1 Corinthians 7:12 "If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him." 1 Corinthians 7:15 "But suppose the unsaved spouse is the one who insists on a divorce. "If the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace"
We also have to understand that God forgives sin. If you are walking a close walk with Christ and are sincere about asking for forgiveness, He tells us we will be forgiven (1 John 1:9) Read the story about the woman who was caught in the act of adultery and taken immediately to Jesus. Jesus forgave her, he knows we all sin because we are only human. God will forgive you too.
Divorce is a very serious step which goes against God's intentions for us, although some relationships might be better off separated if infedelity was involved. Seek counsel, and talk to your pastor. Remember God intended for your marriage to last forever.
