Pondering the rift

God speaks in Isaiah 54:7, "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you." Also, Paul speaks of God thus in 2 Timothy 2:13, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." And again, James writes (4:11a), "Do not speak evil of one another, brethren." These texts set the eternal perspective of God's faithfulness against the conception today that is just the opposite. I don't know all the reasons that people claim as grounds for divorce, but Scripturally they boil down to pride on the part of one or both parties, and subsequent contempt for covenant.

"I was unhappy because my spouse doesn't appreciate me for who I am." -- Granted, there are many ungrateful living beings. They're called humans. All of us have an entitlement complex, but ours is sufficient for us to deal with. Trying to make the other one grateful is a task best left to a greater power; what I can change is my own gratefulness. Change, the wise have said, begins in the one who perceives, and thankfulness engenders kindness.

"I'm better off alone." -- Granted, no other person can share certain feelings and experiences. But finance, family stabilization, and psychology attest that it is far better to stick closer than brothers (Proverbs 18:24). As God would have each of His children with Him throughout eternity, so also let us look at marriage as a practice run for heaven.

Thank God that the covenant oath does supersede our feelings - let it be as unimaginable for our love (actions) to fail as it is impossible for God's love of us to fail!