The Devil Wants Your Marriage - Part 2

And what about those who have already been through the pain of divorce and gotten remarried? One would think that on their second, third, or fourth go-round they should certainly have a handle on how to succeed at the game of marriage. Yet in spite of that rationale, experts tell us that the divorce rate for remarrieds is even higher!

If God set up the institution of marriage for our good, then why does it commonly go awry? Where has this pandemic of divorce come from? Why is the very fabric of marriage under intense scrutiny and even considered obsolete by many? Jesus said:

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10)

What does Jesus want for you?
“A rich and satisfying life.” That would include your marriage. For in order to have a rich and satisfying life, there has to be peace and enjoyment on the home front.

What is the devil’s modus operandi?
“To steal and kill and destroy.” That would also include your marriage. If the devil can keep you focused on your marital rights and your spouse’s negative qualities, then he has you right where he wants you.

We are in a spiritual battle and the devil wants your marriage. While every couple must take personal responsibility for the condition of their own marriage, we have an enemy that’s not going to relent in his attack. He tempts and taunts us, accuses the brethren, and incites wrongdoing. He would want nothing more than to take the very covenant that you’ve pledged your full allegiance to and wipe it out completely because he knows how utterly painful that will be for all involved. Why would he do this?

1) To hurt you. Divorce ravages the family. The divorcing husband and wife will have to deal with feelings of abandonment, anger, confusion, isolation, and failure. Children from divorced homes become collateral damage in the aftermath and are significantly more likely to end up divorced themselves, thus perpetuating the emotional and familial devastation.

Moreover, the devil wants to dismantle and destroy your Christian testimony. Divorce in the Church does just that. It often sidelines believers from comfortably operating in their gifting and calling. It distracts couples and dilutes from their once unified strength.

2) To hurt God. The enemy of our soul knows how dear marriage is to the heart of God. In Malachi 2:16, we read, “’I hate divorce,’ says the LORD.” God continually uses the analogy of Himself as the Bridegroom and the Church as His bride to further demonstrate the importance of the marriage covenant.

If you set out to hurt me and succeed, that’s one thing. But if you hurt one of my kids, then you have caused me greater injury because a good parent cannot stand to see his or her child harmed. The enemy attempts to inflict pain upon God by setting out to hurt His children through the irreparable destruction of divorce. And then cry out to God asking Him to pick up the pieces of our shattered lives and broken dreams.

You ask, “Then why doesn’t God just prevent this?” He can – through our free will and choices. But the real question should be: “Then why don’t we prevent this?” We can blame God, the devil, or each other, but when it comes down to it, we determine the quality of our own marriage. Jesus said it this way:

Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other. (John 13:34-35)

We say that we love God, but the real test of how much we love God is how we love each other. How you treat His creation reveals how you feel about the Creator.

So before you serve your spouse papers or march into divorce court, remember who it is that wants to destroy your marriage. The devil. But this does not exonerate you from responsibility because marriage takes hard work and intentionality. Be awakened to the reality of spiritual warfare. Then ask yourself this question: “Are the two of us playing right into Satan’s master plan?”