Stay
“Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 ESV
Part of fighting for your marriage is sticking around when conflict comes. Genesis teaches us that marriage is about staying close and growing close. Although this has much to do with choosing to remain in the marriage, it begins with staying at certain critical moments. This is truly a “must be present to win principle.” There are situations in which “a cooling off period” is a good thing. Some couples choose to discuss their struggle a little later, at a better time and place. That being said, the purpose should be to improve the relationship, not just to create distance or avoid the problem.
“two-thirds of…unhappy marriages will become happy within five years if people stay married.” This led the University of Chicago sociologist Linda J. Waite to say, “the benefits of divorce have been oversold.”
(Some spouses are in circumstances with physical violence, abuse or other dangers. In these situations, safety is the initial goal and so separation with counseling is often necessary.)
Pray: “God thank you that you are with us at all times. Thank you that you never have or will give up on me. Thank you for bringing my (wife/ husband) and me together and I pray for wisdom, gentleness and your guidance as we navigate our relationship. In Jesus name, Amen.
