5 Threats to Oneness - Selfishness and Inevitable Difficulties

5 Threats to Oneness – Selfishness and Inevitable Difficulties

Session 2 | Episode 4

A failure to work through inevitable difficulties and trials threatens oneness

It isn’t a question of if we will face difficulties, it is when we face difficulties.

When difficulties arise one or the other can happen: we either fail to anticipate the certainty of difficulties, or there is a failure to respond in the correct way when difficulties arise.
God will allow difficulties in our lives for many reasons. In James 1:2-4 we read “Count it all joy, my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” So, we can either become better or bitter. Proverbs 27:17 says “Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.“
Difficulties do not mean there is something wrong with our marriage, it is only wrong when we fail to respond in a proper manner.
Difficulties will either drive us apart or bind us together – we can choose how we will respond.

“Count it all joy, my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James 1:2-4

When problems arise, we can try to deny it, or we can take the escape route which is a long-term solution to a short-term problem. It is important that we have a plan for how to move through these periods without blaming, rejecting, or withdrawing from our partners.

So, a failure to grasp God’s perspective together on these problems will result in ISOLATION.

Presented by

Isolde Swanepoel

Isolde studied Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Pretoria and taught at the same department until she and Quintus joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in 1980.

They are so aware of God’s goodness and grace as they celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2019. They are the parents of three children and three children-in-love! And Grandparents to 9.

Since 1996 Quintus and Isolde have been involved with FamilyLife, the marriage and family strategy of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Isolde Swanepoel

Isolde studied Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Pretoria and taught at the same department until she and Quintus joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in 1980.

They are so aware of God’s goodness and grace as they celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2019. They are the parents of three children and three children-in-love! And Grandparents to 9.

Since 1996 Quintus and Isolde have been involved with FamilyLife, the marriage and family strategy of Campus Crusade for Christ.