Author: Tommy Larson

Christ follower, husband, father. As a wretched sinner with a past full of shame and regret, it is only through the Lord's goodness and grace that this transgressor's voice is able to impart anything with Christ-honoring value. My ongoing prayer is that the Good Lord uses these posts to advance His kingdom and draw individuals back to Himself. Contributions to this site are reflective of my desire to bring honor and glory to God, through the promotion of biblical truths related to divorce, marriage, and reconciliation.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21, ESV)

The conclusion of a marriage is a season of profound upheaval, marked by significant grief and the disruption of a core life covenant. As we observe this season, it is imperative for believers navigating divorce or separation to critically evaluate where they seek solace and stability.

The retail market promises immediate gratification and the illusion of control through buying what I want. Yet, from a strictly biblical perspective, this pursuit of temporal comfort—the attempt to mend internal brokenness with external, material goods—is a path of profound spiritual distraction.

A Biblical Argument Against Worldly Treasure

Our mandate, as delivered by our Lord, is to prioritize the eternal over the perishable. The Gospel narrative consistently challenges the notion that worldly possessions can satisfy the deepest needs of the soul:

For individuals experiencing the acute pain of divorce, the vulnerability to this temptation is amplified. A significant purchase might momentarily mask the sorrow, but it inevitably fails to address the root wound. Material assets are inherently transitory; they are subject to depreciation, decay, and loss. They lack the capacity to execute the work of spiritual healing or relational restoration.

The mistake lies in seeking an eternal solution—the deep peace and lasting identity found only in Christ—within a temporal framework. Shopping, spending, and accumulating goods as remedy to numb emotional pain, offering no true substantive relief.

Fulfillment in Christ

The only enduring comfort and true foundation for hope is found in the redemptive work and person of Jesus Christ. The New Testament provides a stark contrast between the fleeting world and the immovable Kingdom of God.

Never-ending Hope: The comfort offered by Christ is an inheritance that is reserved in heaven, described as “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4). No earthly transaction can yield this kind of security.
Sufficiency in Weakness: In moments of brokenness and perceived failure—feelings often associated with divorce—we are directed away from self-reliance and worldly substitutes and toward the sufficiency of God’s grace. As the Apostle Paul learned, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).
The Eternal Weight of Glory: We are encouraged to view our present afflictions, however devastating, through the lens of eternity. These trials are temporary and are actively preparing us for an “eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV).

This season must be recognized not as an opportunity for material replacement, but as a critical moment for spiritual realignment. The emptiness caused by a broken covenant cannot be filled by an empty shopping cart. It can only be filled by the overwhelming, unconditional love of the Redeemer.

We are called to resist the culturally loud message of consumerism and instead cultivate contentment and peace by fixing our gaze on the only treasure that truly lasts. Our peace is not purchased; it is received through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Contentment, Faithfulness

Finding Light in the Darkest Valley: The Discipline of Gratitude

November 27, 2025December 5, 2025 Tommy Larson

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Thessalonians 5:15

If you are currently navigating the fires of separation or facing the devastating finality of divorce, we must begin by acknowledging the gravity of your situation. We extend our deepest sympathies for the profound pain you are enduring.

At Purposed Marriage Ministry, we staunchly champion the sanctity of marriage. However, we also recognize the shattered reality many of you face. You are navigating a grief that is unique, complex, and exhausting. You are mourning not merely the loss of a partner, but the dissolution of a shared history and a envisioned future. When one’s world is upended, it is natural to feel abandoned, angry, and utterly adrift.

To propose the practice of gratitude amidst the wreckage of your life may seem counter-intuitive, perhaps even offensive. To speak of thankfulness while your heart is breaking feels impossible. We understand this resistance; however, it is precisely in these moments that we must reframe our understanding of what gratitude truly is.

The Misunderstanding of Gratitude

Society often positions gratitude as a reaction to good fortune. We are taught to be thankful when circumstances align with our desires, when prayers are answered favorably, and when life is tranquil.

The Biblical perspective, however, is radically different. Gratitude is not a reaction to our circumstances; it is a discipline of our faith. It serves as an anchor that holds us fast when the storm is raging. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Apostle Paul writes:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

God does not ask you to give thanks for the divorce. He does not expect you to be grateful for the betrayal, the isolation, or the financial uncertainty. Rather, He invites you to offer thanks in the midst of it. Gratitude is the primary weapon we use to combat despair. It is the mechanism by which we remind our hearts that while our circumstances have shifted, the character of our God remains unchanged.

The Sacrifice of Praise

When one is in the thick of separation, gratitude is rarely an emotive response; it is a spiritual labor. The writer of Hebrews refers to this as a “sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15).

A sacrifice, by definition, implies a cost. Offering thanks to God when you are in anguish may require every ounce of spiritual fortitude you possess. It is an act of defiance against an enemy who seeks to consume you with bitterness. When your identity as a spouse, your home life, and your routines are stripped away, you are forced into a desperate, beautiful dependence on God alone. It is within this raw vulnerability that gratitude becomes a lifeline.

Practical Application: Starting Small

How does one practice gratitude while enduring such significant pain? We must start small and focus on the eternal.

Be Grateful for God: Your marriage may have ended, but your status as a beloved child of God remains secure. Romans 8:38-39 promises that nothing—neither angels nor demons, nor the present nor the future—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. No court document can annul His covenant with you. Give thanks that He is the companion who will never leave nor forsake you.
Be Grateful for Sustaining Grace: Reflect on the fact that you have endured yesterday. Though it was painful, you are here today. As Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Thank Him for the breath in your lungs this very moment.
Be Grateful for the God’s Provision: When the Israelites wandered the desert, God did not provide a five-year plan; He provided manna for the day. Identify your “manna” today. Is it a supportive conversation with a friend? A moment of silence amidst the chaos? A song that realigned your perspective? Identify that singular mercy, seize it, and offer thanks.

Shifting Our Prespectives

Gratitude during divorce is not an exercise in denial. It is not about pretending that everything is well. It is about acknowledging that even when our circumstances are not good, God remains good. It is the discipline of shifting our gaze from the magnitude of our problems to the magnitude of our God.

If you are walking this lonely road, it is my prayer that you find the strength to whisper a word of thanks to Jesus—not for the pain, but for His presence within it. He is close to the brokenhearted. Lean on Him, for He is capable of bearing the weight of your grief, and He is worthy of your trust.

Judging, Offense, Spiritual Warfare

The Spiritual Battle for Your Marriage: Fighting with Faith and Prayer

March 9, 2025March 9, 2025 Tommy Larson

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Marriage is a sacred covenant, a beautiful union designed by God to reflect His love for the Church. Yet, beneath the surface of many troubled marriages lie unseen battles—spiritual forces working relentlessly to destroy what God has joined together. While we often focus on visible struggles—neglect, addiction, and broken trust—the deeper, more insidious attacks come from the enemy who despises this holy bond.

When a Christian man and woman enter into Holy Matrimony, they forge more than just a legal or emotional commitment; they become one flesh, bound together in both body and spirit. Their union is a living testimony of Christ and His bride, the Church—a symbol so powerful that Satan and his demonic forces ferociously wage war against it. The Christian home is a prime target, and these attacks are often subtle, creeping in unnoticed until they manifest as bitterness, division, and despair.

The enemy’s tactics are cunning, striking at the very foundation of marriage. Many couples, unaware of the spiritual battle raging around them, seek worldly solutions—self-help strategies, therapy devoid of Biblical truth, or simply ignoring the problem—only to find themselves more entangled in struggle. The reality is that these battles are not merely physical or emotional; they are spiritual. And to fight a spiritual battle, we must wield spiritual weapons.

Scripture calls us to be vigilant, to recognize the unseen war and to arm ourselves with the truth of God’s Word. To neglect this reality is to walk into battle unarmed, and vulnerable to the enemy’s schemes. We must fight—not with anger, manipulation, or despair—but with prayer, fasting, and unwavering faith.

I learned this truth firsthand. Leading up to the heartbreaking day when my marriage ended in divorce, I became acutely aware that this was more than just a human conflict—it was a spiritual war. Though the legal decree was final, I knew in my heart that God was still at work. My wife was ensnared in battles far deeper than what was visible, and the only way to see victory was through the power of prayer.

I gathered an army of intercessors, lifting Amy up before the Lord daily. I prayed for the removal of ungodly influences, for the breaking of strongholds that were pulling her away from God’s plan. The answers did not come overnight, but they did come. One by one, through no earthly intervention, the toxic relationships and destructive forces in her life were stripped away. The voices of darkness were silenced, and the chains that bound her heart were broken. When those strongholds fell, her heart became fertile ground for true transformation. Praise the Lord!

If your marriage is under attack, do not lose hope. The battle may feel relentless, but you are not alone. God has equipped us with powerful weapons—His Word, prayer, fasting, and faith. When we stand firm, refusing to surrender to the enemy’s schemes, strongholds will fall. Do not grow weary. Satan is in this for the long haul, but so must we be. And take heart—greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world! (1 John 4:4). Victory belongs to the Lord.