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Signs of insanity in relationships!

Squadron of Sisters (Debbie Chavez) Leave a comment

Do you continue to experience problems in your marriage or other significant relationships?  I know it’s tempting to think it’s all the other person’s fault, but I have to ask you this question.  Is it possible that one of your own behavior patterns is contributing to the problems in that relationship?   Let me ask the question another way.  Are you continuing on with your old dysfunctional way of operating in relationships, expecting different results?  That’s the definition of insanity?  If the way you’ve been doing things in relationships hasn’t yielded great results, maybe it’s time to try a new way!  Listen to God’s blunt advice to us in Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.  Let’s not be dogs returning to vomit!  Let us not be fools who keep repeating their folly.

We all tend to have a dysfunctional pattern or two!  It’s easy to see the other person’s defects and flawed patterns of behavior, but it’s much more difficult to recognize our own.  Maybe it’s time to ask God if there is any behavioral pattern of yours that could use attention and change.  For instance, if you’re a conflict avoider, and if you keep stuffing your resentment under the rug (hoping that it will just go away), maybe God is asking you to consider dealing with issues in the relationship in a more direct way.  If you have had issues with anger in relationships, anger that has caused destruction, maybe God is saying it’s time to see a counselor to get to the root of your anger issues so that you don’t continue blowing up your relationships.

Sit with God and ask Him if there is an old pattern of operating in relationships that would benefit from a makeover.  Then ask Him to give you the courage and wisdom to chart a new path.

Thinking of ending your marriage?

Squadron of Sisters (Debbie Chavez) Leave a comment

When you’re going through a serious challenge in your marriage, it seems right to choose the path where the pain can be quickly relieved. In a nutshell, it often seems best to choose divorce. But I’ve been through divorce, and I can honestly say that even though some of your pain will be relieved, you’ll be faced with a whole new set of problems and heartbreak.


So, maybe you should try something else. What if you were to seek outside counsel for your marriage? What if you were to spend time on your knees crying out to God on behalf of your marriage? What if you were to courageously, but respectfully, confront your husband if he is seriously out of line in some area? That could be the beginning of a turn-around in your marriage.


And also, please consider that other people are watching how you handle challenging times. Your children are watching how you handle this. Are you teaching them to bail out of situations and relationships when the going gets tough, or are you showing them how to persevere and do the hard work to restore the relationship? Meditate on Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…”


Yes, sometimes ending the marriage may be the right path, especially if there has been a pattern of affairs or abuse. But often, we choose to end a marriage because of resentment or unmet expectations or because “he’s not making me happy”. Please, please, please work to address the issues that are prompting you to consider divorce. There may be a way to develop a healthier perspective and a healthier relationship. This will likely take work, and the process could be painful, but often good things happen when we persevere through the pain!