There May Be More To It...Learn To Discern

Recently, I was thinking about 2 women who encountered Jesus.
Jesus told the first one, the adulterous woman, “Go, and sin no more.”

Her freedom required repentance...she has to make a decision.

Then He delivered the second one, Mary Magdalene, from seven demons.

Her freedom required power, not just will.

Two women.

Two transformations.

One Savior.

Different remedies.

Not every struggle is the same.

Not every conflict is purely emotional or behavioral.

Not every pattern is resolved by effort alone.

Some problems in marriage and relationships demand wisdom and humility:

soft answers instead of sharp ones,

forgiveness instead of ego,

listening instead of being right.

Those require choice.

Some seasons simply hurt because life hurts.

Grief. Parenthood. Job loss. Depression. Chronic stress.

No one sinned. Nothing is wrong. You’re just tired.

Those require compassion.

But some things linger without reason.

Patterns repeat without triggers.

Peace evaporates without cause.

Distance grows where intimacy once lived.

Irritation swells from nowhere.

Conversations feel hijacked by something other.

When logic ends, discernment begins.

Not paranoia.

Not suspicion.

Not seeing demons in dirty dishes, mood swings, or unwashed laundry.

But the kind of quiet spiritual awareness that says:

Something here doesn’t make sense...let’s pray.

Let’s seek counsel.

Let’s not attack each other...let’s fight for each other.

Because some battles are psychological,

some are circumstantial,

but some are spiritual.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood...according to Ephesians 6:12

Not spouse against spouse.

Not husband versus wife.

Not silent treatment versus wounded ego.

Discernment is not fear...it’s seeking clarity.

It reminds us we are not just bodies and emotions.

We are spirit, influenced by spirit, living in a spiritual world.

So we must cultivate wisdom on all levels:

When the problem is poor life choices...repent, do better.

When it’s life...extend grace.

When it’s spiritual...take authority.

Marriage requires maturity, but thriving marriage requires discernment.

There may be more to it.

Pause. Observe. Pray.

You are not called to fight blindly.

1 Corinthians 9:26 says "Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air..."

Learn to discern.

👣 Be Better. 💛 Love Better. 🙌🏾 Do Better. 💍Marriage Works.