Christian Discipleship Course 51.

Question and answer: “Divorce is everywhere, but what does the Bible say about it?” The Bible says that God hates divorce.

Jesus said that divorce is permitted if a spouse has been sexually immoral. Matthew 19:3-12, Mark 10:1-12. Divorce is messy and painful - everybody loses, especially the children.

Malachi 2:16 ‘For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garments with violence…’

Divorce is ‘normal’ in some societies, but it should not be normal for Christians. Most of us will know people who have gone through a divorce and we know some of the pain and anguish they have endured.

Wisdom: Never rush into marriage, pray long and hard and make sure that you are compatible, suitable and both spiritual. Do you have the same calling? The best way to protect yourself from experiencing a divorce in the future is to let God choose your future spouse.

Divorce can cause much pain, rejection, a feeling of betrayal, bitterness, anger, financial and emotional stress and a deep sense of grief. You need to forgive those who have hurt you and allow God to heal your broken heart. We need to love and to help those who have been through divorce, especially the children who often are caught in the middle of the parent’s tug-of-war. God can give you all the emotional support etc that you need.

Fact: It is better to work a problem through than to run from it. ‘With God all things are possible’ Matthew 19:26. Jesus can and does heal marriages. He also can heal the children who have been hurt by their parents’ divorce.

A lady who had been married for fifty years was asked the secret of her successful marriage. She replied, “I decided to make a mental note of his ten worst habits or annoyances, and then just ignore them one by one”. And what were those ten habits or annoyances?” asked the intrigued lady. “I’m not sure” replied the happily married lady “I stopped counting at nine”. You cannot change the person whom you marry, but you can love and accept them Ephesians 4:32, 5:21-33, 1 Peter 4:8, Ecclesiastes 7:22-23.

Think: When I step into marriage will it be ‘Till death do us part?’

More Info: Genesis 2:18, 24, Deuteronomy 22:19, Malachi 2:13-16, Matthew (5:23-24, 18:15-17), 19:3-12, Romans 7:1-3, 12:17-19, 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, 1 Peter 3:7.