Consideration of divorce is never easy. In order to pray accurately over the situation in your marriage, you must know the will of God. And in doing that, you have this assurance: God always hears and answers prayers which are prayed in line with His will (1 John 5:14-15). So the first thing to do is to discern God’s will in His Word.

We know this: Divorce among believers is certainly undesirable. God’s best is for two Christians, once they become husband and wife, to remain married throughout their lifetime. “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:4-6).

First Corinthians 13:4-8 outlines how the God kind of love behaves. Since faith comes from the Word (Romans 10:17), meditate on those verses until your mind is completely renewed (Romans 12:1-2). Then act on the Word in faith for your marriage.

Make a decision to respond with God’s love no matter what happens. Instead of reacting emotionally to your spouse, respond according to the God kind of love (see 1 Corinthians 13). Be patient, kind, forgiving, always protective, trusting, persevering and hopeful. Do not be envious, boastful, proud or rude. Do not keep track of wrongs or be self-seeking or easily angered. Since God promises you that love never fails, if you walk steadfastly in His kind of love, your marriage cannot fail!

Although the Apostle Paul did not discuss divorce between two unsaved people, he did say that adultery, divorce or anything else the flesh produces in the life of a sinner is a result of the sinner following his true nature. According to 2 Corinthians 5:19, God will not hold his sins against him. This would include divorce.

In 1 Corinthians 7:12-13, 15, Paul dealt with situations involving one saved and one unsaved partner. In this case, Paul says that if the unbeliever is willing to live with the believer, the believer should not seek a divorce. However, if the unbeliever leaves, the believer is not bound to the marriage. He ended with the statement, “God has called us to live in peace.”

God’s Word is His will for you. We encourage you to read over the scriptures we have just mentioned and meditate on 1 Corinthians 7. Pray and trust God to bring the clarity of His will in regard to your stand.