Installment 3: How to Live with a Difficult Spouse: Worship God and Listen to Godly Advice
4. Praise God when your relationship with your spouse is at its worst and best. There is nothing like praise to lift you out of the darkest night. The apostle Paul lifted his voice when imprisoned, and was literally set free. When I learned to praise and worship God in the midst of terrible pain and disappointment over my marriage, my prison door opened. (However, do not endure physical abuse---see sidebar.)
Right now, you may feel you have very little to praise God for in your marriage. Instead, look to the Lord and thank Him for what he has done. He delivered you from darkness into his marvelous light. He rescued you from the adversary. He gave you a hope and a future in Him.
When I’m feeling low, I listen to worship tapes that lift my spirit. It helps get my eyes off my own situation and onto Him. God has the answer for my marriage and yours. Worship will help bring you peace of mind. However, sometimes we need God’s extended arms in people.
5. Seek advise from medical doctors and Godly wisdom from friends and spiritual leaders. Since I realized my husband had a chemical imbalance, I sought good professional care for him. Even with this, I often ran on empty in my marriage. I needed someone to lift me up spiritually, to give me perspective, to listen. I poured out my heart to my closest friends and sought advise from pastors and counselors. However, I tempered what they said with the Bible.
Some councilors advised me to divorce my husband. Although I had left my husband at one point when I felt it appropriate, I didn’t believe this was the ultimate answer. Instead, my husband consented to meet with our pastor and try to work out our differences. After several roadblocks, my husband finally agreed to work on a plan. However, it wasn’t easy. During those times I needed to:
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