I have multiple friends whose marriages are on the ropes right now for various reasons, none of which are abuse or infidelity.  All of the people involved in these relationships are Christians, some of whom I am sure are reading these words right now.  I have to give you some advice, and while you may not want to hear it, it’s my obligation as your friend to tell you this because I genuinely care for you.

Here’s what I have to say to you: as a Christian, your marriage is a reflection of Christ (see Eph. 5:32 & surrounding), so fight like hell for it!  

Some of you have probably convinced yourself that you have a “peace with God” about it.  I’m just not buying into that.  I don’t think that the same God that says that your marriage is a refection of Him would give you a peace about quitting on your marriage.

Divorce is not the solution.  Things like patience, humility, forgiveness, confession is a good place to start.  It won’t be easy, and honestly, it’s going to be one of the toughest things that you’ve ever done to restore your marriage.  Yet…reconciliation is what we as Christians are called to do (2 Cor. 5:18).  What better thing to reconcile than the commitment that you made before God to your spouse?

Point blank:  marriage is meant to last.  It’s not a used car that you should trade in just because you’re having some major (or minor) problems.  It’s your job to fix it.  Stop making excuses.  Stop pointing fingers & playing the blame game.  Hear out your spouse & listen to them.  Sit down together with a counselor.  Do whatever it takes to restore it.

I know that you may not like your spouse right now.   But if you love them, and more importantly, love this God that is reflected by your marriage relationship, you will fight for it.

How often do Christian’s have an “it’s not you…it’s me” mentality with God?
Stay with me for a second.
We say that things aren’t going well in our spiritual life because “it’s me.”
But do we really believe that?
Do we really think that the problem is us?
Or could it be that…a lot of times…we truly feel like God’s the problem?

Why didn’t He answer my prayer?
Why didn’t He give me what I wanted?
How could He let that happen?
Why don’t I feel like God even cares?

Let’s face it.  We really don’t have faith in Him most of the time.
We feel like God’s not fulfilling MY needs or MY desires.
We don’t really think that we’re the problem.
Because if we did….we would change.

I wish we truly meant it.
It’s not You…It’s me.

But the time away has created something interesting that takes place whenever I get back home. It never fails (up to this point), that when I get home my little boy comes running to me and I pick him up to embrace him. He is so excited to see his Daddy and it thrills me to no end to be able to pick him up and simply love him.

I was reading in the book of Jeremiah the other day and a verse really stood out to me. It said “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” This “lovingkindness” or hesed in Hebrew, is a love that is relentless, constant, unrestrained love that God has for us.

I can’t help but to immediately think of my love for my little boy and my wife. I know it’s only a small glimpse into God’s love for us, but it reminds me that there is someone out there that has an unrelenting love for us. He pursues us, embraces us, and loves us no matter what we’ve done because we’re His.

Maybe some of you needed that reminder today. Maybe not. Just know that there is someone out there that loves you no matter what and know that He will embrace you whenever you come to Him.