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Can God Heal A Broken Marriage? – Viral Believer
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Can God Heal A Broken Marriage?

Marriage is a sacred union between a man and woman, instituted by God. When two people join in holy matrimony, they make a vow before God to love, honor and cherish each other until death parts them. However, we live in a fallen world and even Christian marriages experience problems and heartache. Infidelity, lack of communication, financial pressures, addictions, abuse and more can chip away at the marriage foundation. If you are in a broken marriage, you may wonder, “Can God heal this? Can he put the pieces back together?”

The answer is yes, absolutely God can heal a broken marriage! No relationship is beyond His restoring power. But it requires humility, commitment and reliance on Him from both spouses.

Here are key takeaways on how God heals marriages:

  • God designed marriage and has the power to heal it
  • Repentance and forgiveness are key
  • We must submit our relationships to Christ
  • Unity comes by the power of the Holy Spirit
  • We must pray together regularly
  • Counseling helps give perspective
  • There will be setbacks, but don’t give up

God Designed Marriage And Has The Power To Heal It

Marriage was created by God. In Genesis 2:24, the Bible says “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus reaffirms this in Matthew 19:6, stating “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

If God is the author of marriage, then He also has the power to heal marriages that have gone awry. The apostle Paul confirms this in 2 Corinthians 5:17, saying “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Through the transforming power of Christ, He makes all things new. A broken marriage is not outside of God’s ability to restore.

We see God’s restorative power at work in the life of Hosea. God instructed Hosea to marry the adulterous Gomer as a picture of God’s love for wayward Israel. Though Hosea’s marriage started off rocky, he obeyed God. As a result, Gomer was healed of her passions and reconciled to Hosea (Hosea 3:3). God used Hosea’s steadfast love to restore his marriage. God can do the same for marriages today.

Repentance And Forgiveness Are Key

Healing for a marriage cannot happen without repentance and forgiveness. We must come humbly before God, asking His forgiveness where we have failed in the marriage. As 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Forgiveness is a choice, not simply a feeling. We can ask God to help us forgive. Jesus modeled radical forgiveness from the cross when He prayed for His accusers, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24). Forgiveness is extended, not because the other person deserves it necessarily, but because we have been forgiven much by Christ (Ephesians 4:32).

Bitterness, anger and resentment will eat away at a marriage. We release these to God as we choose to forgive. Clearing the air through open communication assists this process. Humbly owning our faults allows God to work. As James 5:16 notes, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” This is key for the healing of marriages.

We Must Submit Our Relationships To Christ

In order for marriage to be all God intended, both spouses must submit themselves and the relationship to Christ. As Ephesians 5:22-33 explains, the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church. Wives are instructed to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ. Husbands are commanded to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Marriage lived God’s way – with sacrificial love and mutual submission – fosters an environment for healing and restoration. Each spouse dying to self and asking “How can I serve my spouse today?” will transform a marriage.

Practically speaking, submitting a marriage to Christ means making Him Lord of our relationship. We commit to obey God’s Word in how we relate to our spouse. We make intimacy with Christ the foundation rather than looking to our spouse to meet all our needs. As we abide in Christ (John 15:4-5), His power works in us, enabling us to love well.

Unity Comes By The Power Of The Holy Spirit

God made husband and wife one flesh in marriage (Genesis 2:24). Ephesians 4:3 instructs us to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” True unity is not possible by human effort. It is the Holy Spirit who enables unity.

The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the believer like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). As spouses walk in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), they have power to build unity in the relationship.

Each spouse can ask God to fill them afresh with the Holy Spirit daily. As we yield to Him, we are transformed to reflect Jesus more. Walls of division and hostility crumble as the Spirit works. He convicts, guides, comforts, and empowers. Marriages experience hope, blessing, and unity by the awesome power of the Spirit.

We Must Pray Together Regularly

Consistent prayer together is vital for couples to stay aligned and fight for their marriage. Jesus said, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19). There is power when couples join their faith and offer up their marriage to God in prayer.

Praying together fosters intimacy and spiritual unity. The enemy works hard to divide marriages. When couples intercede together, it keeps their focus on Christ. They remember they are fighting for the same team. It is crucial to make prayer together a daily priority. Even 5-10 minutes a day can make a huge impact.

Couples should bring their challenges, hopes, fears and dreams to God. Ask Him for direction, trust Him with results. Declare Scriptures over the marriage like Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Take hold of God’s promises for restoration and cling to them. As James 5:16 notes, the earnest prayer of the righteous makes much available power!

Counseling Helps Provide Needed Perspective

Getting help through counseling can be a key component on the journey to marital healing. Having a trusted, godly counselor’s perspective helps couples see blind spots. The counselor serves as a neutral voice to diagnose problems and give wisdom. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).

Counseling assists couples in dismantling cyclical patterns that damage intimacy. New communication strategies to foster understanding are vital. As spouses feel “heard” change can happen. Counselors help couples rebuild trust that was broken. Counseling combined with prayer and Scripture bring powerful breakthrough.

Finding a counselor experienced with issues the marriage faces is important. Some problems like abuse, addiction, or infidelity require specialized help. Ask those you trust at church to recommend counselors who align with your faith. With godly guidance and the Holy Spirit’s help, marriages find hope.

There Will Be Setbacks, But Don’t Give Up

It is important to remember progress in a damaged marriage rarely happens quickly. There will be ups and downs in the process. Sometimes couples experience a “two steps forward, one step back” phenomenon. This can be discouraging, but must not be a cause to give up. Healing is a process.

Paul reminds believers to “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). By God’s grace, couples must press through hard seasons into breakthrough. They must extend grace to one another along the way.

Genuine change takes time and persistence. Couples must set their eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of their faith (Hebrews 12:2). He cares deeply about our marriages and will lead us into triumph. His purposes for our marriage will prevail as we submit to Him daily. A healed, thriving marriage often comes slowly, but God’s work is worth it!

In Closing

Broken marriages can be restored! God’s heart is reconciliation and renewal. While both spouses must commit and do their part, Jesus intercedes for us. Wonderfully, we serve a God who redeems brokenness.

Do you find yourself asking “Can God heal this?” Take hope friend, the answer is yes. Humble yourself before God and take steps toward Him. Pursue wise biblical counsel. As you choose to honor your marriage vows, God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Call to Him. He will surely answer.

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.