Hi JSW,
jsw said:
1 Corinthians chapter 7, specifically verse 15. Please tell me if I have the correct understanding of this verse, because if I don't I am lost and have no clue what to do. I had planned on filing this month, I have seen my husband once in two years, am I to stay married to him?
1 Corinthians 7:15 is about divorce between a non-Christian and a Christian with the non-Christian doing the leaving. The emphasis in this and surrounding verses is that a Christian is bound by the promises they have made. God expects us to keep them. A non-Christian, however, is unable to be expected to hold to such promises. We cannot force our moral beliefs upon those who either do not believe the same as we do or do not understand them the way we do.
While married to a non-believer, no matter if it is a successful marriage or an unsuccessful marriage, so long as that non-believing spouse wants to stay with it we must keep our promise and not leave. Through our actions, our perseverance, and hope in God, we just might be able to lead that non-believer to Christ.
If, however, the non-believer wants to leave, not being bound to the same rules as we Christians are, the believing spouse cannot hold them to their promise, and so is free to let them leave.
So, my question to you would be, is your husband a believer? If so, I would hold off on the divorce and pray about it some more. God always has an answer if we're willing to listen.
If he is not, and he wants to divorce you, perhaps it is wise to let him go. I still suggest you pray about it though, it never hurts to be extra sure you're hearing correctly from God.
I hope you are given a clear answer that gives you peace.
WomanSeekingGod