The Attraction of Divorce – Part 3

Amazing! Time indeed flies. We are already in Part Three of the series we started a few weeks ago under the title, The Attraction of Divorce.

Thank you, my friends, for hanging with us. If this is your first time here, thank you for being here. You may benefit from checking the previous two parts so that you can more easily follow today’s post.

Last time, we ended the post by asking one important question:

What does God call Christians to do with what is broken?

What Kind of Divorce Are We Talking About?

As Christians, we know that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:15–16), and we are not here to advocate for divorce. We also know that some marriages end in divorce because of biblical grounds, such as sexual immorality and abandonment.

But in this series, we are not addressing those marriages.

We are addressing marriages that should not end in divorce because there are no biblical grounds for it. Even though there may be no biblical grounds to seek divorce, there may still be no love, no joy, and no peace in the marriage. One spouse—or both—may feel unhappy and may believe their marriage is broken. And this couple may be Christians.

So what should Christians do?

From the teaching of the Word of God, we know that Christians must always go to the Word of God to know what God wants them to do with their broken marriage.

We Are Called to Imitate God

The Word of God says:

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
Ephesians 5:1

And again:

“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
1 Timothy 4:8

Godliness is the life of imitating God, walking in His ways, and being shaped by His truth.

For us human beings, our natural instinct toward a broken thing is usually this: replace it.

Whether it is a broken phone, a broken appliance, or even a broken relationship, our tendency is often to replace what is broken.

But what about God, the One we are called to imitate?

Does God replace broken people?

How does He deal with a broken man or woman who once walked closely with Him? Does He discard them and start all over again with “better people”?

Look to Christ to Know God

To know the answer, we need to see what Scripture says about God. And to know God rightly, we must go to the only One through whom God is fully and finally revealed—Jesus Christ.

Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3).

The prophet Isaiah helps us see how God deals with broken people—people who seem too broken to have any kind of relationship with Him. Listen:

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.”
Isaiah 42:1–4
See also Matthew 12:18–21

God Restores the Bruised Reed

Did you see that?

God’s pattern in dealing with broken people is not replacement but restoration.

God does not break a bruised reed. He does not quench a faintly burning wick.

I mean, who would put a bruised reed to use? A broken reed seems good for nothing. And a faintly burning wick seems only good to be stepped on so that it stops smoking and bothering people’s eyes and nose.

But not with God.

I don’t know about you, but for me personally, I have many times made a mess of my life. I have successfully made my life look like a bruised reed and a faintly burning wick. But God—yes, but God—as many times as I could not count, picked up the pieces of my life, put them together, and restored me to my first love, to a wonderful and healing relationship with Him.

“But I Am Not God”

At this point, someone looking at their broken marriage with hopelessness may say,

“Yes, this is possible with God. But I am not God.”

That is true. You are not God.

But the Bible says:

“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13

If you belong to Christ, you are not left to your own strength. God is the One who works in you, giving you both the desire and the ability to obey Him.

So, if you trust God and His Word, God is able to work in you and through you to bring healing, repentance, humility, endurance, and restoration to what is broken.

Can He not?

The question is this: Are you willing to glorify God in your life and marriage by denying yourself, submitting yourself to His truth, and allowing Him to work in you and through you?

(continued next time)