Is your marriage broken or about
to collapse? Are you ready to save it?
Is that really possible? The owners acknowledge that their house is in a
bad condition, but they have decided to restore it. Would you like to do the same with your
marriage? If so, where will you begin? Try the following suggestions.
· Identify the problem.
What is it that has interfered with your marriage? Is the problem from
you or your spouse? In one sentence,
write out what you think is lacking or what you want changed. Understandably, the problem you identify may
be different from that noted by your spouse.
· Make a resolve.
Work it out and agree with your mate that you will work together to
restore peace to your marriage. Make the
sacrifice of playing the fool to lead in the restoration mission. Try writing your decisions on paper. When both you and your spouse are committed,
saving your marriage becomes a team project.
·
Set a goal.
Where would you like your marriage to be six months from now? What specific improvements would you like to
see? It requires working hard to avoid any conflict within this restoration
period. Write your goal on paper. When
you have a clear vision as to what you need in your marriage, your goal will be
easier to attain.
· Apply Bible Counsel. Once you have identified your problem and
discovered the improvements you would like to make, look to the Bible for
advice. Its principles are timeless, and
they really work. Isaiah 48:17; 2 Timothy
3:17) for example, the Bible encourages you and your spouse to be forgiving. Indeed the Bible says that “It is beauty…to
pass over transgression”. Proverb 19:11.
Even if at first your efforts
seem futile, do not give up. The book – The Case for Marriage reports the
encouraging results of one study, stating: “The truth is shocking: 86% of
unhappy married people who stick it out find that, five years later, their
marriages are happier”. Even couples who described themselves as very unhappy
experienced a turnaround.
Perhaps the same can be true for
you. It has been found that the Bible provides practical principles for married
couples. For instance, many marriages
improve when spouses are kind and tenderly, compassionate and freely forgive
each other. Wives should learn the value
of displaying a “quiet and mild spirit, and husbands should experienced the
benefits of not being bitterly angry with their wives – 1 Peter 3:4; Colossians
3:19.
The Scriptural principles are
effective because the Bible’s Author Jehovah God created the marriage
arrangement. Why not find out more on
how the Bible can help your marriage.