Interfaith Marriage

by Keisha Simon
(trinidad)

Question: Hi my name is Keisha, i have been married for the past 2.5years, I'm a pentecostal my husband is Muslim....i regret my marriage everyday i feel like i disobey God's will for me.......to make matters worse his mother got herself in a jam and had to live with us...he never asked me how I felt about that he just moved her in.........I'm so fed up of see her that I have built up an anger towards her because of this I don't speak to her anymore....I'm an only child and I live with my mother who raised me as a pentecostal because of my marriage to a Muslim my mother don't speak to my husband he isn't allowed to come to the house to visit he stays outside in the road........my husband and i don't live together because I don't want to live with him I feel he cant be the head of me and his valves I don't want, I also have a 12y old daughter he has a 7y daughter as well, he didn't make any provision for my daughter to live with us but he made for his mother....to put this in a nut shell i want a divorce, I was married to my daughter father also so this would be my second divorce.....I hate myself for getting married to a Muslim....my husband and I don't get along we curse each other we live dog and cat...I don't know if I love my husband but I know I want to do wait is right in the sight of God....please send me some advice soon...thanks

Answer: Hello Keisha, we certainly can understand your concerns and frustrations being in covenant with someone who does not share the same beliefs as you. This is what the Bible calls being "unequally yoked." And as you are probably aware, the Bible warns believers against this. The Bible does say that if an unbeliever is married to a believer and the unbeliever wants to leave, then he can go and the wife is free. But it goes on to say that if the unbeliever wishes to remain married then the wife must not divorce him. You can find that scripture in 1 Corinthians 7:13-15. So, based on what you have said, you don't have grounds to divorce your husband. God gives us instructions for a reason and it's up to us to obey them. Just because we are tired of living with the consequences of our choices does not mean we can void the obligations that comes with our decision.
That same scripture in Corinthians says that an unbelieving spouse can be won over by the Christlike behavior of the wife. Yes, you said you were Pentecostal, but have you yielded your life to Christ? Has your behavior towards your husband been Christ like? or has it been rebellious?

Keisha, whether you want your husband to be the head of you or not, in God's eyes he is the head of you. Your position right now has to be a position of prayer. Prayer for your husband's salvation, and prayer for wisdom so that you can make Godly decisions. Rededicate your life to Christ and begin to seek Him with your whole heart. While you are separated there are things you can do that will strengthen you spiritually and give you a better chance of reconciling with your husband. Consider reading The Prodigal Spouse it is specifically for spouses who are separated. Keisha, God really can bring healing to your situation. That is, if you want it. Divorce is not pleasing to Him. He can turn things around. He can save your husband. He can restore your marriage. He can do ANYTHING! But it's going to take a willing heart -- You dying to your flesh and placing God's will above your own. It will not be easy by far, but it's much better than passing down a legacy of divorce to your children.

Don't run from this hard place. Trust God to carry you through it. Be still for a moment and listen for the voice of your heavenly Father. We will be praying for you.


With Christ's Love,
Mike and Wanda