Q:
I know preachers like to say that God gave marriage to us, but I think my marriages must have come from the devil. I'm only two years into my third marriage, and now it's fallen apart. How can I be sure my next marriage won't end up the same way?
A:
God didn’t intend for marriage to be a source of conflict or unhappiness for us – not at all. God brought Adam and Eve together, and His plan was for them to live together in perfect peace and harmony. And at first they did.
But something happened to them – and that “something” was sin. They turned away from God and His will, and instead of caring for each other and loving each other, they began putting themselves first – and that led to conflict. And that’s always the case when we put ourselves first and leave God out of our lives. When that happens, the Bible says, we easily become ruled by “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy” (Galatians 5:20-21). Has this happened in your life or marriage?
This is why the most important step you can take is to turn your life over to Christ and ask Him to change you from within. God loves you and wants to fill you with His love. Begin a new life today by opening your life to Christ. By a simple prayer of faith confess your sins and commit yourself to Him.
Then ask Him to guide you in the future. If it’s His will for you to remarry, ask Him to guide you to the person of His choice – someone who loves God, and will love you selflessly and fully. Don’t be satisfied with anything less than God’s will.