Several years ago a couple came by my office for marriage counseling. Now I will admit, I love to pastor the church and enjoy all the activities that go along with it. But when it comes to marriage counseling I'd rather be fishing. Because most of the time a pastor can sure find himself in a no-win situation. Both individuals think the pastor should take sides with them. And of course there are two sides to every story. When this particular couple came in it was very evident neither one of them really wanted to be there in the first place.

They sit down on the sofa, one on one end and the other on the opposite end. When I gazed at them from across my desk, it sure looked hopeless to me. Neither one had any nice words to say about the other.

I talked with them for a while and was getting absolutely nowhere. I used up all my marriage knowledge rather quickly and was desperately grasping for something else to say to them. I thought maybe I was making matters worse, for the look on her face was sort of saying, "Why don't you just but out, preacher."

Then it came to me, if I could just get them to pray. Because frankly, I believe prayer really changes things!

I asked them to turn around and kneel in front of the sofa, which they reluctantly did. I began to pray with them, and as I prayed something began to happen. They were no longer on opposite sides of the sofa, they were now side by side sobbing their way through to loving forgiveness. Boy, was I happy! I almost shouted! They arose from the floor with smiles on their faces and went out the door a happy couple once again. Am I a good marriage counselor or what? Oh no! I did nothing! It was God who put the broken pieces back together again. It was God who restored their relationship. It was God who took the hurt, bitterness and unforgiveness and replaced it with His love.

I am persuaded that most marriage problems could be solved around an altar of prayer. Most of the time those experiencing marital problems have too much pride to admit their mistakes, and take responsibility for their own faults and actions. Many times feuding couples take their problems to marriage counselors who may be having problems of their own. Therefore the marriage ends in a bitter divorce with the children being the real losers. But I have found in my 35 years of ministry, that if I can get a couple to humble themselves and kneel around an altar of prayer, and earnestly seek God for an answer, He can and will restore their relationship. Prayer changes things. Prayer restores marriages. Through prayer God can pick up the broken pieces and put them back together again. He can heal the hurt and take away the pain.

I must admit, there must be a willingness from both individuals before God can restore a broken relationship. But if there is a desire to repair the broken pieces, God is in the repairing business and He can make it like new again. Praise God!