When a marriage becomes unworkable, the health of the family takes center stage. Divorce to save a family is a complex problem that is poorly understood by Christian organizations. The author provides answers to these questions.

What are the essentials for a stable marriage?
Marriage is built on the understanding that both parties are rational and mature. When discussing divorce for just cause, we look at marriages that do not work, cannot be fixed and damage the nucleolus of the family if allowed to continue.

Can a marriage survive on love, commitment and prayer alone?
In my experience, no. Of course, the virtue of love, goodwill commitment and prayer is critical for a successful marriage. My marriage had a serious flaw and needed resolving, but God rewarded me with gifts beyond measure in other ways.

What comes first, the marriage or the family?
Marriage and family go together, but if the union cannot survive because of an intrinsic flaw, building a solid family takes precedence. Marriage is less important than establishing order, safety and happiness in a home. Clear and concise guidance from one parent is better than two in conflict.

When should a couple divorce?
Many couples divorce when they should not; others stay married when divorce would be better. In my belief, divorce is necessary if the spouse causes family dysfunction, interferes with raising the children and endangers personal safety. Divorce should only occur after counseling has failed.

How long should the spouse stay in a troubled marriage?
The desire to stay married is noble and right but an on-again, off-again relationship causes more harm to the children than a finite state. If the problem continues, an earlier divorce is better than waiting. Research shows that the damage to a family occurs before the divorce and not as the result of it.

Can a single parent raise a family alone?
Absolutely. Although God’s plan of a loving mother and father is best, the traditional family is not the only model that works. Character and competence of the parent(s), and not marital status, are the key factors to a successful family.

Does single parenting add to juvenile problems?
While statistics shows more problems with children from single-parent homes than intact families, the information can be misleading because it does not address the cause of the divorce. A marriage can only succeed if both partners are fair. Character flaws of the parent(s), and not divorce, are contributing factors to juvenile delinquencies.