Real Life~Real Answers: Marriage Problems

Your best friend calls you from out of state with a desperate voice saying, “I want out! I want out of this marriage! I can’t take it any more! How can God expect me to live with this man who makes me so angry and doesn’t love me? Don’t I deserve to be happy?”  You have known they were having problems resolving conflict, but didn’t realize that it was this bad.

*What Biblical advice should you share with your friend that would help her view this situation in a godly way?

*What could you challenge her to do to be the godly wife God wants her to be?




Recommended Books:
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

Real Life~Real Answers

Leading With Criticism from Others

You've been given the task of heading up a specific ladies' ministry.  You've been a member of your church for five years, and there are many faithful ladies who have been serving in your church for many years...some up to 20 or more.  You accept the leadership of the ministry, and announce you are making a few changes, which you believe would make the events you are planning, more appealing to more ladies.  One lady who has been with the church for many years, becomes very upset about the changes and makes her opposition known.  You've already run it by the pastors, and several other ladies and they all approve and agree with you on the change. 

*What do you do in response of this lady’s opposition?  Do you keep things as they are?  After all, this lady has been a faithful member and servant of the Lord for many years, and this is a real bone of contention for her.

Real Life ~ Real Answers

A Christian Hypocrite

Susan (who is saved, attends church faithfully and teaches SS) looks forward to her daughter’s basketball season starting. Her daughter has really improved in her ability to play the game since last year and Susan thinks her daughter will get a lot of playing time this year. The first game day arrives and as Susan anxiously waits for the game to start in the stands she cheers for her daughter during the warm-up time. Finally it’s time to start and as the starting line up is announced, her daughter is not one of the girls who is starting. Susan wonders why and by the time the first 5 minutes of the game has passed she becomes angry. She moves from her spot in the bleachers to sit closer to the coach and begins yelling for him to put her daughter in and goes on and on about how good of a player she is. The coach ignores Susan during game play, but during a time-out takes a minute to ask her kindly if she would not yell at him like that during the game. Susan becomes furious and begins to rant and rave over the fact that her daughter is not playing.

How well is Susan demonstrating what she believes?

What is she showing by her words and actions?

How should Susan respond? What would be a godly response in this situation?

A Challenge

Communication with your husband takes work. Often we neglect to communicate because we are busy with other things such as care of the children, ministry activities, or housework. Yet, in order to grow in your relationship with your husband, you must communicate! Here's a challenge: Plan a date with your husband in the next 2 weeks (get a sitter for the kids!!). Then on your date ask your husband how you can be a better wife for him. Ask for his honest feedback and assure him you won't get angry at his response! Pray that God would help you to be open to what your husband says to you and to not make any excuses! Then come back here (if you want) and let us know how that went.