Is remarriage an option?
If you are considering remarriage after the divorce or death of your spouse, the Bible gives you the freedom to do so. But, it’s wise to consider your motives and to be sure you have received healing first from past pain.
In Matthew 19:8-9, Jesus said hard-heartedness is the cause of divorce. One of the best questions you can ask yourself before entering a new marriage is this: Have you repented of any hard-heartedness that contributed to the end of your first marriage?
It’s important for anyone who’s been divorced or widowed to take time to heal from the past relationship and seek God’s advice before starting a new one.
Is It a Sin to Remarry?
Not everyone who is divorced or widowed remarries. Being single is not a punishment, but rather an opportunity to serve God more wholeheartedly. Some people choose to remain single. Others find marriage allows them to follow Jesus more closely than they would alone.
The question is: Which will draw you closer to Jesus and better enable you to follow Him step by step? This is the advice the apostle Paul writes in a letter to one of the first churches:
“...each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:7-9).
The best thing you can do is ask Jesus and do what He says.
Ultimately, the decision to remarry is between you and the Lord. The Bible tells us to seek wisdom and the Lord’s will, then make your decision based upon His response (James 1:5, Psalm 37:4, Proverbs 3:5-6).
Seeking the Lord’s will for your life is prudent. The best thing you can do is ask Jesus and do what He says.
How Do I Know that What Happened In My Las Relationship Won't Happen Again?
A lot of people worry about having their heart broken again, which is understandable.
If considering remarriage after a divorce, the first issue is to resolve any hurt that remains from the previous relationship. Whether the fault lies with you or your ex-spouse, repentance and change must occur before the road to healing can be paved.
If considering remarriage after the death of a spouse, take some time to grieve. Working through your pain might take time, but the Lord is faithful to meet us in our grief and heal our broken hearts (Matthew 5:4, Isaiah 61:2-3).
Let God work in your heart in His time before stepping into a new marriage. There is no guarantee you’ll never be hurt again. However, by putting God first in your own life and dating someone who is doing the same, your next relationship will be built on listening to Jesus and doing what He says. And He will never lead you astray.