Mercy & Forgiveness

"After thirty years of marriage, at some point, during some awful season of trial and tribulation, you must have considered divorce. Come on. Be honest now."

"OK," my husband and I invariably answer, "we'll be completely honest. We've never considered divorce. Murder, yes, but never divorce."

On strictly a surface level, that may not seem too Christian, but obviously the statement is in jest. However, there's always a bit of truth in humor, isn't there? I've found myself looking at that recently.

In my own marital journey I know both my husband and I have experienced disappointments. Hardships. Moments of anger, pain and frustration. But here's the key. Those Satan-riddled episodes always end with mercy and forgiveness. They have to. That's what God wills and decrees.Furthermore, that mercy and forgiveness has to be mutual. Even when it's the toughtest thing you ever have to do. Forgiveness needs to be sincere in both delivery and receipt. Let's face it, that's no easy task when you're operating from a pressure point, but it's what's good. It's what's best. Most importantly, it's a mandate from God.

Isn't it interesting that a number of times in Scripture, Jesus equates our relationship with God to that of marriage? Heaven is even compared to a wedding feast. What does that tell you about the importance He places upon the sanctity of Holy Matrimony?

Maybe that's something to keep in mind as we work our way through the day-to-day joys and battles of our lives and relationships.

Mercy.

FORGIVENESS.