Unequal Marriage - My Story

My Best Friend on Earth

Doesn’t know my Best Friend in Heaven

You can thrive in a Spiritually Mismatched Marriage

by:

Lynn Donovan

© March 2006

The signature tune begins. The words, Nightly News, appear on the TV screen. I tense and mentally prepare for battle. I see my adversary across the room as he looks suspiciously back at me, his eyebrow raised in a slight warning. I watch as he leans toward the screen. The lead story flashes a smiling picture of President Bush, of course a flash point between us because of his proclaimed Christian faith. I cringe, World War III threatens to explode upon our carefully crafted peace. Artillery is readied and sure enough, I open my big mouth and boarders are crossed. A counter strike is inevitable.

Politics, religion and science are the usual issues that can launch the war of words around our house. My husband and I differ in view points frequently because I view the Nightly News through the lens of the Bible. My husband does not share my faith so he does not understand my perspective. We are Spiritually mismatched.

Comments

[Katherine Marshall]

I am a southern baptist girl who married a catholic boy and for some reason didn't think it would be this hard! We have 2 children who are attending a bible base christian school that my husband disagrees with. I am lead to follow Gods plan for our family, but feel very divided and at war. I would like to hear more about how to handle this battle.

[Trisha Harris]

I used to believe that being unequally yoked would be okay so long as both spouses supported each other's need to believe as he or she chooses. HOwever, I belive that it is difficult enough to reach agreements, evenwhen both partners share the same components of faith, let alone differ on values and beliefs all together.

[Trisha Harris]

I have one more comment to add to this-as far as being unequally yoked, I do not believe this applies exclusively to marriage. I belive that there are so many different types of "partnerships" including businee partnerships, investments partnerships, where if one person is a believer or has a definitive set of core values and the other does not, there will always be a threa of tension running in most all decision making processes. The question will arise " Can I reach a compromise without compromising my values?"

[Tonya]

I like your comment "for some reason"!! For some reason we never think about consequences before we make choices. I wish I had a dollar for every time I said or thought that phrase.
Its ok Katherine--you keep following the directions God left you in His word. He'll take care of the rest. Don't ask me how it all works out. I'm in the middle of the battle too, but I'll be a weapon for you.

[Cathy in Australia]

What does your husband think about you blogging? Does he read it? Have you discussed your spiritual mismatched with him?

[Lynn]

Cathy,

Excellent question. My husband surprisingly is 100% supportive. When I talk about him personally he will even read the posts before I publish them. I would never want to embarrass him in any way. He knows the trials we went through. He said, "Lynn if you can help someone else and bring peace to a home, go for it."

God works in mysterious ways. I am blessed he supports this ministry. The need is great. I turn everything over to Jesus and He receives all the honor.

Thanks for writing. Have a great day. Love and hugs, Lynn