• Lack of communication?
• A need for better understanding of each other or of what makes for a good marriage?
C. How may I help to provide a solution to save our relationship?
2. Help determine the best course of action:
A. Forgiveness. Things can never be worked out unless there is
forgiveness. This may be difficult, but a way can be found. Those involved must ask for God's grace and wisdom to face the reality of the situation. The true extent of their mutual love and concern will be most evident at this point. The guilty spouse must also seek God's forgiveness and the spouse's forgiveness.
B. Communication. The couple must make a determined effort to
communicate with each other in order to discuss freely all facets of the issue. Lack of communication may have been a contributing factor to the problem. Now is the time to correct this.
C. Prayer. The couple should pray together, trusting God to work things
out so that the marriage may be saved and grow stronger.
D. Counseling. They should be willing to consider professional counseling
with a qualified pastor or Christian counselor or psychiatrist. It may take time to work things out.
Scripture
"Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. 'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool'" (Isaiah 1:16–18,
NIV).
Jesus said to the woman accused of adultery, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more" (John 8:11).
"The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife" (1 Corinthians 7:3–4, NIV).
"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral" (Hebrews 13:4,
NIV).
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Other suggested Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 6:15–20