“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
Today is Valentines Day and I just read an article on the news website entitled “5 Reasons Why Marriage Doesn’t Work Anymore”. If you’d like to read the link, here it is: http://www.kare11.com/news/5-reasons-we-cant-handle-marriage-anymore-1/408184397
As I read this article, I wondered, “Where is the hope?” and “What is this saying to my children and their generation?” And on today of all days!
The author details the impact of social media on our lives, lack of sex, lack of face-to-face communication, desire for attention, and many other reasons for why marriages no longer work. Although I can agree with and understand several of the points he is making, it seems one part is missing. If we only view love and marriage as what WE can bring to the table–our love, our passion, our commitment, our finances, etc… we will surely fail. But when we invite GOD into the picture, He can change our lives and give us the strength and power to make our marriages work. I realize the author may not be a Christian or believe in God, but I wonder how many people fill our churches week after week, with the idea that marriage is marriage, and WE have to figure things out. God, involved in our marriage? Really? We put God in a box and our marriage into another.
When I got married, my pastor talked in his sermon about marriage being like the fiery furnace, in the Bible story about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. There would be very good times and very hard times, but if you trusted God to work in your marriage, He could help you through it. That is because God brings a supernatural love into our relationship, something we cannot create as limited, sinful human beings. Our love will end. God’s love will not. Our love is shallow at times. God’s love is deep.
Paul writes about God’s amazing love in the text above. This is a love that conquers all things. This is a love that cannot be stopped. This is a love that cannot be brought down by social media, lack of sex, lack of communication, or lack of desire. This love of God in Christ Jesus cannot be defeated. This love will reach out to us all, from a holy God, and nothing can contain it. Period.
That is the love that God girds us with when we enter into marriage and trust in Him.
I know many marriages end for a variety of reasons, and I feel for those families. But I also think that we can give hope to our generation and the next—that there is an amazing love that God can bring into marriage, a love beyond ourselves, a love that can’t be defeated. And because of this, I would re-title this news article:
5 Reasons Why Marriage Can Still Work
1. God
2. God
3. God
4. God
5. God
Prayer–“God of everlasting love, I pray for YOUR love in my relationships. I know my love can be shallow and vain, but your love is stronger and further-reaching than mine. Your love will not fail. Help me to seek that love, know that love in what Jesus did for me on the cross, and show that love to others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Prayer For All Days 
Hey, super for Valentine’s Day! I agree with you. The only thing missing in troubled relationships is God. If God is first, we aren’t selfish, disloyal, dishonest, vengeful, prideful, hurtful, abusive, or any other combination of evil which causes family pain and dysfunction. If we followed the commandments, we would love others unconditionally along with total love for God. There is still hope for our children, but only if we teach them this truth. Even if they loose their way, we can still urge them on with this truth. Some in our world have turned away from God. We need to pray for them and set a good example. Thanks Heather!
LikeLike