How Long Do I Have to Wait for My Marriage to Be Restored?

How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.  Habakkuk 1:2-4 

“God, where are You? I need to hear Your voice and direction and feel Your peace.”

Is that one of your thoughts during the hard days?

Do you ask, “God, why did this happen to us? What caused this to happen to my spouse? Why are You allowing my children to be hurt? God, the pain in my heart feels like it will burst and rip out of my chest. Please help me. I can’t stop crying. God, are You here with me? Speak loudly to me, as I can’t hear Your soft voice anymore. God, why are You not doing something about all my spouse is doing to our marriage?”

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?  Psalm 13:1-2

I understand your pain and questions. Don’t panic, and don’t allow the enemy to attack you with fear. God is in control.

Habakkuk, a prophet, also questioned why God tolerated evil, violence, injustice, and destruction of the righteous. He often wondered why God waited so long to punish evil. Why are our prayers not being answered quickly?” Habakkuk asked God, “Why are You allowing the wicked to prosper?” God spoke to Habakkuk and explained to him what He was going to do. May these scriptures give you hope and confidence in your mighty God as you face marriage problems.

“Look at the nations and watch–and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”  Habakkuk 1:5 

Then God explained to Habakkuk that He already had plans to punish Judah for its sins. He would use another ruthless and pagan people, the Babylonians, to correct Judah. Habakkuk was astonished that God would use wicked people to punish Judah.

Habakkuk learned to trust God and to live by faith in God’s way, regardless of the circumstances. God told Habakkuk that He already had plans, that He was going to punish His people with a nation more wicked than they were for all their sins. God wanted Habakkuk to wait for His appointed time. There was going to be an ending to the wickedness in the world. God’s faithful people had to be patient. 

Will you choose to live by faith every day? Will you wait for your beloved spouse to see the error of their ways, to hear God’s voice, and to surrender to Him? It is all right to cry out, “Why God?” sometimes, but then choose to become like Habakkuk, waiting to hear the Lord’s answer.

Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.  Habakkuk 3:16-19 

While waiting for the Lord to touch and change your spouse’s hardened heart, will you choose to rejoice in the Lord every day, stand firm if you are being persecuted, and rejoice regardless of your circumstances?

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:4-7 

Are you willing to wait? 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:14 

God bless,