Marriage can be difficult. But Christians aren’t alone in their marital struggles. God gave them Scriptures, which contain an abundance of wisdom to address and overcome challenges. And the power of marriage Scriptures can be especially strong for husbands and wives who long to strengthen their marriages during times of crisis.
Marriages Will Have Challenges
No one promises couples easy marriages. Challenges, disagreements, and arguments will happen. Husbands and wives should address and deal with them together. Whatever problems one spouse has, they belong to the other.
Challenges married couples face include:
- Communication. This foundational element must be woven into every facet of life to make a relationship successful. When a husband and wife talk at each other, not with and to each other, arguments replace discussions and breed resentment.
- Schedules. People live busy, hectic lives and can’t (or don’t) make time to be together. Or they use activities – work, hobbies, “alone time,” or even sleep – as a means to avoid their spouses when they don’t want to be together.
- Daily Stress. Work and activities inject stress into people’s lives and pose significant challenges to a happy marriage. When there’s too much stress building up, and people cannot fulfill their obligations to God, their families, themselves, and their employers, something will eventually give, and everything will ultimately suffer.
- Issues with Children. Children are blessings from God. But raising children requires a unified “front,” meaning parents are to parent their children together and not leave that invaluable task to the other to fulfill. Stresses can also arise when parents try to raise their children differently.
- Finances. Money troubles are a major contributing factor to America’s skyrocketing divorce rate. Whether the husband or the wife takes care of the bank account, stress and arguments can abound when they’re not on the same page about handling money.
- Infidelity. When a spouse lacks intimacy with their partner, they may search for it elsewhere, resulting in infidelity and betrayal.
- Sex Addiction. If a partner has unresolved trauma, it could result in an addiction to sex, masturbation, or pornography. Not properly treating the addiction and its root cause can destroy the marriage.
There’s nothing in God’s Word that assures people that marriage will be simple. But it does provide assurance that all these challenges are addressable and solvable. The Apostle Paul told the Philippians:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV)
People are to turn to the Lord in all times and in everything for guidance, protection, deliverance, hope, and peace.
Spiritual Tools
God gives people powerful ways to overcome trials and tribulations in life, but these are also ways people can draw closer to Him and, in turn, each other. The Lord Jesus said, “…In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Matthew 16:33b, NKJV)
To overcome life’s trials and tribulations, Christians can use:
- Prayer. The Apostle John wrote, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14, NKJV) When people call upon God, they can rest assured that He’s listening.
- Fasting. This ancient method of drawing closer to God through abstaining from certain foods at certain times – especially in times of great need – goes hand-in-hand with the efficacy of prayer. Jesus, when casting out the demon of epilepsy from a man’s son, said to His Disciples – who were unable to perform this miracle themselves – that “this kind [of demon] does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21) If true fasting and prayer can cast out demons, how much more powerful are they to overcome life’s other difficulties?
- The Church. Jesus established His Church on earth for believers to commune with Him and others. Hebrews 10:24 and 25 (NKJV) reads: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” People aren’t “solitary practitioners” of the Christian faith. They’re called to join (and grow) in the Lord together.
- Scriptures. Scripture instructs people on how to act, believe, and heal. This instruction is helpful during times of marital strife.
The Power of Marriage Scriptures for Strength and Forgiveness
You and your spouse can overcome any challenge you experience in your marriage. God tells us through Scriptures that couples can find strength for their marriages and themselves through forgiveness.
Marriage Scriptures you can apply to strengthen yourself, your partner, and your marriage overall include:
- Proverbs 3:5 (LXX). “Trust in God with all your heart, and do not exalt your own wisdom.”
- Proverbs 15:1 (LXX). “Wrath destroys even men of discernment, but a humble answer turns away anger, and a grievous word stirs up wrath.”
- James 1:19-20 (NKJV). “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
- Romans 12:15-16 (NKJV). “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. … Do not be wise in your own opinion.”
- Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV). “Therefore… put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another… even as Christ forgave you…”
- Ephesians 5:28 (NKJV). “…Husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”
- Romans 12:9 (NKJV). “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”
- 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV). “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’”
How Boulder Recovery Can Help
If you’re dealing with sex addiction and it’s challenging your marriage, Boulder Recovery can help. We’re a Christ-centered and clinically-innovative treatment program focusing on bringing Christian men back to healthy, loving relationships with their wives.
Our 14-Day Men’s Intensive takes a Scriptural approach to help men deal with trauma in their past that affects their lives and marriages in the present.
Boulder Recovery also offers a Partner Support Program to wives dealing with betrayal trauma.
It’s never too late to turn back to God to heal your marriage and yourself. Contact Boulder Recovery to begin your healing journey.
