My wife and I have been married for 10 years, divorced for 1 year, and remarried for 4 years. This, of course, is to each other. Ours is a marriage that has been put back together after the divorce.
You may ask, how is it the second time around? It’s absolutely marvelous. We never argue, never say the wrong things to each other, and we are always happy. If only it were so! No, we do argue, and we do miscommunicate with each other. We are not always happy. But that’s all part of having a successful marriage.
First Marriage
In our first marriage God was not a part of it. I rejected God and was the most inconsiderate man that any woman could ever have been married to. I was an alcoholic and a drug addict. Eventually I became a gangster. My wife had to live ten years of absolute hell with me.
She, however, loved me. She told me continually that the reason she stayed with me was because she believed the man that she had met 10 years before would return. Despite all the ways I hurt my wife, she did not divorce me. I left her for a younger girl and divorced her.
It was my six year old daughter who was the one who helped to bring us back together. She had never been into a church, nor did she know much about spiritual things. But one day she found out from her teacher that she should pray for God to bring her daddy back. God answered her prayer.
Lastly, I want to say that if you are having marriage problems and want to get divorced, I don’t recommend it. I believe with God any marriage can be successful. To sum it all up, success in marriage depends how much you are prepared to sacrifice. My precious wife was prepared to sacrifice everything to keep our marriage together. I thank God for her.
This is a true testimony given to us from a subscriber from South Africa.
(USA) Has prayer actually helped anyone on this site? I am struggling with my faith and all I read are painful stories of broken marriages. With all the requested prayer, there must be some stories of reconciliation. I know this site begins with a story written by someone from South Africa but it sure would help all of our hopes to see more stories of reconciliation and remarriage.
Hi Joseph, I’m so sorry that you are seeing so much pain, without seeing victories –in marriages that are eventually reconciled as God answers prayer. Please go into the “Save My Marriage” topic and go into the “Testimonies” part of it. You will see one after another true testimonies of God at work and people participating with Him in reconciling their marriages. I just saw a true testimony this morning on CBN.com, where Jay and Debra Ross testified as to how God helped them to restore their marriage when it looked impossible, with Jay straying about as far as it could get. You can see their testimonial by going to, http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/RWR21v3_WS. Their story is titled, “Can Infidelity Be Forgiven?” I’m not sure why it’s called that because it seems it should have been named, “Does God Answer Prayer When All Looks Lost in a Marriage?” Please view it.
I can tell you Joseph, I know many, many couples whose marriages have been restored. One of them is Clint and Peggy Bragg, whose testimony is in the “Save My Marriage” topic. They divorced and didn’t see each other for over a decade but through various circumstances, they re-met, and they now have a GREAT marriage and a great marriage ministry. You can see their story on Youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGbE1pbd_fY.
I don’t want to mislead you, not all people who pray that their marriages will be restored have it happen. We all have free wills and sometimes, no matter how much God talks to our hearts, we have the choice to deny Him. BUT that doesn’t mean that prayer doesn’t work and you should give up if things look impossible. God will do His part, as we line our will up with His. He will change US and I believe with all of my heart that He will talk to the straying spouse. What she or he does with that, is up to them. But don’t underestimate what God can and will do. It’s when we give up and when we lose hope that things become hopeless. He will mend our hearts one way or another as long as we trust in His heart and His love for us.
Joseph, we hear from people almost every day, who tell of various ways God is working in their marriages to turn them around. On our web site within many of the comments under different articles, there are those who give short and long testimonies to the way God is working on their behalf. I agree that you will find a majority of the comments from those who are hurting. That’s human nature. If things are going well, they don’t think of visiting web sites on marriage. And if things don’t go well and they visit and then are doing better, they most often will not come back to help others. Sadly, that’s what happens. Oh, how we wish it were different! We need more people who have witnessed the Lord at work to come onto this web site to encourage others. But it is what it is.
God helped my husband Steve and me breathe new life into our marriage, which was close to being dead. I was contemplating divorce and we were separated when God spoke to my heart and then Steve’s. And then He helped us to build our marriage –stronger than ever before (and He’s still working on us). We want our lives to be one big THANK YOU for all God has done and is doing in our marriage. We are crazy in love with each other. I can’t imagine ever loving another human being like I love my husband. I would spend 24 hours a day with him if I could. We’re madly in love. And yet, we were both colder than ice to each other years ago.
Does God answer prayer, concerning troubled marriages? Yes… most definitely yes. I hope this encourages you in some way. And I pray the Lord gives you help, and hope for a better tomorrow –especially concerning your relationship with your wife. May you be blessed!
(USA) CINDY – Thank you so very much for taking the time and effort to help me as well as everyone else on this site who may have let doubt and despair sneak up on them. You have lifted my spirits and have given me hope. One way or another, I anticipate a better tomorrow. I pray that you and your husband will continue to be a testimony to the love and compassion of God. I pray that the Lord will continue to work in the lives of you and yours. May I ask you to kindly say a prayer for Lisa and myself? If it is that we never reconcile, may the Lord’s will be done in the lives of us both. Thanks once again Cindy. It meant the world to me that someone heard my plea.
(UK) Hi. I feel so lost nowadays. Im 32 and in my second marriage. Wish I hadn’t divorced my husband. He was a tyrant and 9 years older than me but we fought constantly. I guess I married him for all the wrong reasons. I graduated early (20 years old) and I was very ambitious; I wanted a good stable home and a blazing career. By the time I was 23, I had a rich husband and a super job. Then things started falling apart. My husband lost his job and changed dramatically. Looking back now, I wish I’d sought counsel and stayed with him. I went crying to my sister instead (our parents are late). She took me to one of the assistant pastors in her church for counselling and we started meeting in the church every Monday.
Thing is, my marriage got worse but my relationship with the pastor grew into a beautiful friendship. Long story short, I saw in this pastor everything my husband was not and it angered me. I divorced my husband and married the pastor about a year later. My husband had made my life miserable, shouting at me and the kids, leaving me to foot the bills, all of them, not touching me for weeks -even months but I realize now that he loved me and all he wanted was to be the provider and head of his own home. I took that home away in my immaturity and spitefulness. I wanted to be pampered and loved and adored and it just wasn’t happening. I’d look at him and see a man growing old… I just wanted out. Period.
My 2nd husband has proven to be a gold-digger in the worst sense. I sponsor all his business ventures and ideas and I’m still footing the bills. I’m a year older than him. While I dated him and while he made what I now realize were feeble attempts to reconcile my husband and I, he spoiled me silly. I’d buy him things and he would reject some of them, telling me I was overdoing it and “a real man provides, not the other way around.” He opened doors, kissed me in public and in private, listened to everything I had to say and was totally every girl’s dream and prayer for marriage. Now, he barely looks at me after just 2 years of marriage (I was married for 9 years to my former husband and I realize now that he really really loved me, just that his upbringing and other factors made him seem unyielding). I’m so unhappy.
(USA) D.B. What is it that you are asking for?? You didn’t give your (first) husband a chance. You met a pastor, of all people, and married him within a year of being divorced only to find out that he was a gold digger?? Did it occur to you that this man (the pastor) was there to help heal your marriage but instead, dated you??! Did it not occur to you that something was just not right? Doesn’t sound like much of a pastor. I think he needs to look into a new line of work.
And you mention that you and your first husband had kids but, because of your immaturity, you took the home, etc. You sound like a very impulsive person. I hope that some people on this site that read your story pray for you, and most especially, for your ex husband. Sounds like you really did a number on him.
It’s understandable that you are unhappy but I, and I expect anyone that reads this story, feel more compassion for your ex-husband than you. I pray that the Lord’s will be done in your ex-husband’s, your present husband’s, your children and your life. Only God can figure this situation out.
(US) I feel for everyone of these stories I’ve read. I was married for almost four years, my fifth time. My wife flipped out and got a divorce fast. I didn’t want one. All I wanted was a little break apart to try and sort things out. No way, she said. Anyway it would be nice to have her back. Please pray for me in hope that the Almighty will bring us back together. I miss and love her.
(CANADA) Hi, I have been married for 3 years and am now going thru a divorce. We dated for 4 years before we got married. Dating we were so in love and happy. When we got married, the first year was awesome. Then it seemed that all we would do is fight all the time. My husband loved me so much but then it seemed to fade. He said he loved me but would forget my birthday. He would never remember our wedding anniversary.
We have been separated now for 5 months and in those 5 months, I have been trying to convince him to give us another chance. While we were dating, we were very faithful in going to church. But after the 1st year in our marriage, he didn’t wanna go as much. It came to the point of begging him to go with me. I love God and want him in our life. But my husband wants “to do whatever and whenever he wants to do.”
I filed for divorce but I want to cancel it. He isn’t the same man I married and I have faith and hope in Jesus’ Name that my marriage will get fixed. We have a 10 month old boy and I want us to be a family again. For better and for worse. Every marriage has issues and arguments but they work it out. I just need prayer for my husband.
He loved going to church. Now, he quit going, smokes, and drinks alcohol. He did all that before he met me. It was love at first sight. He quit smoking, drinking and became this amazing, most wonderful man ever. All I want is that man back –the one I married. Please pray for me and my son and also my husband.
(USA) I too am need of prayers for my marriage. My husband of 34 years has left our family for another woman. We are beyond devistated. I have reached out to GOD in so many ways asking for his help! I have prayed the hedge of thorns and daily prayed to St. Anthony for a miracle. My husband’s heart is a stone right now, he shows no signs of returning and has filed for divorce. It has been three months since my beloved has left, but I have not and will not give up on him and on GOD. I have been shown so many signs that HE has heard me and that HE is working on my marriage. I do believe that in time, my husband will return, even if we do end up divorced. Don’t give up on your marriage, don’t let go of your faith. Continue your stand! Watch for the signs that HE hears you and be sure to THANK HIM for these signs and for the fact that HE has not given up on you, as hard as it may seem. Let’s all pray, not only for our own situation, but for everyone on this post! There can never be too many prayers for us!!
(INDONESIA) My wife and I have been married for 8 years, we have 2 lovely kids. We’ve shared many difficult times together, though I am hot tempered. I sometimes try to use abusive words on her when angry, which of course, we do reconcile between ourselves. More to it, she has kept company with friends who advise her wrongly, which always prompts me to get angry with her.
Unfortunately, when my business went down, my mother-in-law now wants to control and make decisions in my home, which I vehemently refused. She is now advising her daughter to leave our matrimonial home. My wife asked me to divorce her, which I sincerely refused as a Christian. She adhered to the mother’s advice and left home 6 months ago. Please, I need your assistance through prayers for God to bring her back to our home. The kids need their mother and I also need my wife for I still love her.
(USA) I have been married to a man for 30 years myself. We are separated and everyday I pray to my almighty God to bring us back together. I know God answers prayer. I’ve asked thru other prayer groups for his heart disease to be healed and it was. And I believe in my heart God is reaching him to bring us back together. So I ask others to pray that Scott and Kaye will restore our marriage again. Thank you for all prayers. I also ask Satan yo be gone. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. GOD BLESS all going thru this in marriage. Kaye
(USA) I am in need of God’s grace and prayer. My husband and I recently got a divorce after almost 2 years of marriage. Three months after being married I lost my mother, later that same year had my first surgery, had some financial problems and learned I may not be able to conceive(already miscarried before). To top everything off I was diagnosed with depression and lash out at my husband terribly because I couldn’t understand why everything was happening back to back to me.
He tried to help but we argued all the time. I even felt suicidal at times. I am a Christian but I feel I did lose faith. It because too much so my husband left and divorced me. I desperately wanted him back but he said it was too much and he wants to be there but only as a friend. I know I was alot to deal with and I’m asking for God to restore me as the strong person I used to be and to please bring my ex husband back.
(UNITED STATES) I married for 4 years on october 18, 2012 and my husband had left on our annivesary and my stepdaughter’s birthday. He had lost his job 6 months ago and I have been taking care of all responsabilty he had left me with legal court, and taxes. I am dealing with the problem he created, never told me, kept it away from me. I was so hurt.
I told him to not be stressed; you will find a job, it’s not easy. But he left and has not call me since he left. He is out there struggling and living with friends and not thinking that he has a family to reach out to and a wife who cares. I know that he is a stubborn person. He does not like to discuss the problems. He runs away like a little child. So I am asking God to guide him in the right directions. He hangs with friends that are so negative. I know that he is going through a lot. I try to reach out to him and his sister and daughter. He does not want to deal with it. I believe in my marriage and I hope and pray that he will call and come home.
(CANADA) My wife and I have been married for 11 years. We’ve been separated for 1.5 years. The first year wasn’t too bad as we still did things as a family but the last 6 months have been quite painful. My wife is very aggressive and treats me in a very hurtful way. I know I had my faults in this marriage and I’ve been repenting daily. She says I’m a wonderful man but she wants her freedom and enjoys going out parting with her friends. When I talk about trying to restore our marriage she insults me and ridicules me. We have two wonderful girls 8 and 5 years who are suffering and want thir mom and dad together. When I talk to her about our girls, she refuses to see the pain they are in and says they’ll be fine and now seeks divorce. We have so many common interest and I know that God has brought us together, but my wife has run away from the truth. Please pray for us, we are all suffering.
(USA) Dear Johnny, I can relate on some level. My wife veers between saying “you’re a good man Charlie Brown” and insulting me to the point of tears. I know that when I react to her in sinful ways, I pray to God asking Him to help me hate what He hates. So my first reaction to your post is that right now I ask God to help your wife hate her partying, and love you & the precious girls He’s given you. For you, I just pray for you to be patient, to love her as Christ does, and for God to make you strong and avoid the faults that we all can have if we don’t eternally, vigilantly guard our hearts. I don’t know what else you need right now but I wanted you to know a brother in Christ cares. God bless you and your family.
(CANADA) Wow, Johnny, I’m so sorry that you are going through this. I can relate as I have two daughter too and our family is suffering due to the separation of my marriage. My advise is, the thrill of partying will sour eventually and her “friends” will let her down at some point… thus, wait patiently for your wife to come to her senses and in the meantime, love your daughters doubly.
I’ve prayed for you and that your wife would see the futility in her lifestyle, that the excitement of it all is rubish and that she belongs at home with the man she married and with her two little daughters. Resist being resentful against her. Maybe she needs this somehow to know beyond a doubt that what she really needs is right at home!
I have words of comfort. Keep God always in your life, and always pray. God works through us. Prayer is the answer always. God is good. Have faith and hope. The devil makes everything nice out in the world. But it’s not what they think.
(USA) Im going through a divore right now, but I dont want to be. Please help me pray that God touches my husband’s heart & let him want to give this marriage a second chance, this time with God as our foundation. In Jesus’ Name Amen.
(USA) My wife and I have been married for 9 years. We have 2 girls. We raised them in the church. God has always been in our relationship. Me and my wife haven’t had a perfect marrige but none are. She started getting out of church, stopped praying with me, studing the Bible with me, and one day she told me she just didn’t love me anymore.
Her mother and father always had more countrol over her and had more say so in our marriage than me. Her mother has always been in the middle of our marrige and she always tried to pull her away from God and me. One day I came home from work where her mother and father came and took everything I had. Then my wife called me and said she filed for divorce. I could hear her mother in the background and her family there so controlling her. I know she’s falling into a trap. Please be in prayer for my famliy.
I have found so much comfort in this site. My husband and I have been separated for 1 year. We hadn’t been married that long. We had an argument over some money I asked him for, which was not a frequent practice and then we argued about some drama with his ex wife and kids. He decided that he was leaving and wanted out.
My first reaction was totally wrong as I responsed in an irrational manner. He decided to continue on with his plans and moved out. I do want my marriage to work. Just this week he gave me divorce papers. That cut me so deep. I need GOD to help me get through this and I am believing GOD to restore my marriage to him. Sometimes I get so confused and angry and I get conflicting in my mind. LORD PLEASE HELP ME!!! My heart is so broken and it hurts day in and out.
I want to share a joyful and hopeful sorry with you. I was married when I was 18. We were crazy in love with each other but we did not have God in our marriage. We ended up divorcing after a few years. I remarried and again did not have God in my marriage. My first husband had relationships but always said he couldn’t get married again. Well, 10 years after my first husband and I divorced God has brought Him back in my life. I am a very strong believer now but when he first came back I doubted it was God. But God is showing me every day that he is the one. Last night he asked me to marry him… again. And that’s exactly what I am going to do. Thank you God! Keep your faith and talk to God constantly!
I just got separated on 9/9/13. In 2009 I had an affair, left the house for about 4 months. I thank God that God touched me and reminded me of where my love really was and went back. During that same time, as payback, my wife spent the night with another man. Here we are 4 years later the evening of 9/9. My kids and I got confirmation that my wife was having an affair. The man’s wife called me to tell me. I left the house. Ever since then I have been praying for God to restore our marriage, our family. I am 40; my wife is 42. We have 5 wonderful children and a beautiful 8 month old granddaughter. We have been together for 11 years, married for 7.5.
My children have seen her tranform from a wonderful wife and mother to an 18 year old girl. I have tried to stand firm, be paitent but it is as if she is in a race. She has already filed for divorce. We have our divorce court on 12/4, just 3 months after. I have heard excuses from I wasn’t good to our step kids, I was controlling with her, to I was mean to her sisters, to I looked at women. Now, she is saying that it happened because of what I did 4 years ago. My step kids and I get along great, I see my grandaughter as much as possible, take her to church with me (keep in mind she is not my blood grandauther). They are actually testifying for me on my behalf in a restraining order case she put on me. I didn’t like her sisters, she says, because I didn’t like lending them money. This is where the controlling part comes in. We were always in a financial strain, paying rent late, taking out pay day loans, advances from banks, hardship withdrawals from our 401k. So yes, I did control the money and I didn’t like lending any out because we didn’t have enough for us, much less to lend out. As fas a looking at women, I learned to control myself last November and even then, I didn’t do it to the point she said but I still had to walk with my head down just to avoid problems and accusations.
It is wonderful to hear that your marriage was restored, that is a very miracle of God. As for myself, I have come to the conclusion that restoration is not for everyone. After the affair with the married man, she says it was only emotional. She told my daughter that she was now talking to someone new, someone younger. There has been no repentence, no looking back. She is moving into a smaller place, traded our minivan for an Altima and then decided to tint the windows and put a sound system in it. Because of the restraining order she put on me, I have had to get an attorney. I warned not to let it get that far because if the kids were called as witnesses it would not go well for her. She has anger issues, prone to verbal abuse, and physical abuse. I have never hit my wife. I have never even called her a name.
We serve a Living God my dear. He is never late or too early. Prayer works, continue praying talk to your God and let His will be done. All will be okay. Just surrender the whole situation.