Page 105 - Advanced Biblical Counseling Student Textbook

exacerbated by unresolved issues of one party that have leaked into the marriage. In those cases,
individual counseling may be helpful in addition to marriage counseling.

Even if an unhappy marriage results from a believer being married to an unbeliever, there is always the
possibility the believing spouse can lead the unbelieving spouse to the Lord by his or her chaste conduct
and kind demeanor. “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do
not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives when they
see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:1). The Bible specifically addresses those who are
married to unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 7:12–14: “… If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and
she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a
believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has
been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing
husband.”

In the end, we must remember that “the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open
to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). God knows the pain
of an unhappy marriage, and He understands fleshly desires, but He has given His Word to us on this
matter and He does ask for obedience. Obedience to God always brings joy (Romans 16:19).

So, in counseling a couple with an unhappy marriage, try to identify in what areas each partner is
disobedience in their relationship to God. Bringing Scripture to bare in those areas and helping each
person see how he can submit in obedience to God’s will in each area of their marriage will bring back
joy in their marriage.

How Christians Respond to Emotions – Dr. Josh and Christi
Straubhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC23Q12EoE8

104