01 Letting Go

“Pharaoh again became stubborn and refused to let the people go.” Exodus 8:32

It takes time for a spouse to get to the point where they feel the need to be freed from their oppressive relationship. For the Israelites, their relationship with Egypt started as a good thing that slowly changed for the worse.

By the time a spouse is ready to flee, both spouses have likely had many opportunities to make things right.  Following God’s recipe for healthy marriage requires full devotion of both partners, and even then, as sinful people we behave in ways that hurt others. When one partner becomes so hurt that their mind is set to leave, saving the marriage can be impossible.

When we cling to the relationship, we have to question our reason. We may love them. We may want to honor our marriage. But we may just want control over that person or be afraid that the divorce will result in a loss of wealth. For Pharaoh the latter were true and the results of his stubborn clinging ended in his ruin.

Jesus, help calm my heart so that I can release my controlling grip. Remind me of your way of sacrificial love that went so far as to the willful letting go of Your own life. Help us see that at this point letting the spouse go might just be the way to save the marriage.