Loveless marriages aren’t uncommon in Jordan, which are normally arranged by the bride’s father. Women agree to these marriages out of duty and respect but are often left feeling regretful and wondering how real, emotional love feels. As she entered into her marriage, Sona feared she would be seen as nothing more than an object by her husband.
Sona struggled through the first few years of her marriage, trying to find satisfaction in her children, but nothing seemed to fill the hole in her heart. Finally, a friend shared the love of the Gospel with her, and she got a taste of the acceptance she had been searching for.
As she made the decision to become a Christian, Sona was hopeful, but still doubted that her life could really be changed by a simple belief in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The chaos in her life just seemed to be too much for anyone – even God – to overcome.
Even after putting her trust in Jesus, Sona still had to deal with her unfulfilled marriage. With no visible change in her “circumstances,” she quickly began losing hope and began doubting God’s goodness. The life-giving feeling she had at conversion was quickly slipping away.
“I gave my life to Jesus and I want him to guide my life, but sometimes I find it difficult,” Sona told Mary, an online missionary affiliated with Global Media Outreach. “I am married to an unbeliever and have two kids and am not happy… I don’t find love with him… I pray always to Jesus and cry to him for this problem and am waiting for a solution… Can you help me?”
Mary was there to share the truth of Scripture with her new friend. She made sure to explain that although there may be a biblical basis for a separation due to an unbelieving spouse, God had a plan for Sona’s marriage. He brought her and her husband together for a reason, even if she couldn’t see or feel it currently.
“I just don’t want you to get caught in the lie that Satan tells you about love and happiness,” Mary said. “You can choose to love your husband and to honor him and God by keeping your marriage covenant. It doesn’t matter why you married your husband. What matters is that you did marry him and now if you want to be truly happy you need to let God show you how to be a godly wife and mother.”
Thanks to the working of the Holy Spirit, Sona was immediately impacted by her mentor’s words.
“Jesus made a miracle in my life! I asked Jesus to help me to love my husband, to make a better life for my family, so I am happy and I thank Jesus for that,” Sona said. “The Holy Spirit, which Jesus gives for free, gives me patience, love, advice, good thoughts and makes me a good mother and good woman. My life is getting better with Jesus!”
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Whoa, this is not okay. This girl is clearly in an abusive marriage and it seems like child prostitution. Why would you cover this story and paint it like she’s just in an unhappy marriage? Who marries their daughter off to an old dude? No. We gotta pray that this girl gets out of this. She looks like she’s 17!!! No ma’am. Nope. There is no way she is just “unhappy”. If you are in any way connected to the person who shared the gospel with her – please tell her to investigate this further. She is probably being raped. Then turn this over to the International Justice Mission. This is really serious.
There was no allegation of abuse in this report by Global Media Outreach…do you take the position that arranged marriages are inherently abusive, or an older man marrying a younger woman is inherently abusive?
Yes
I totally agree! From beginning, to the end, I thought the story seemed a little odd. There are numerous documentaries stating the troubling abuse and disgust that goes on with arranged marriages. Some marriages are arranged from the age of 6 to a man of 30+. It looks to me that the “gospel” is being used for manipulation and fear.
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