These days, we see many families treating divorce almost like a rite of passage—something ordinary and expected. It is truly heartbreaking. In a divorce, the ones who suffer most are not the husband or the wife, but the innocent children who must bear emotional wounds and lasting harm. Their once‑pure hearts are often shaped into divided personalities, making it difficult for them to endure hardship or overcome challenges later in life.

For a time, the world was shaken by the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Those who cherished them could not hide their sorrow. The royal couple, who once stood at the center of the world’s admiration—surrounded by blessings, wealth, and honor—ended their marriage in scandal and disappointment. Their separation left a wound as deep as the admiration they once inspired. It made many realize that the wealth and prestige of the British royal family are not enviable after all.

More recently, the divorce proceedings of Nelson Mandela and his wife shocked the world. After 27 years of imprisonment, their reunion had seemed like a miracle, and many believed they would enjoy the happiest years of their lives together. Yet at age 77, President Mandela filed for divorce, saying, “Even if the universe tells me to reconcile, I cannot.” The world grieved once more.

Even last year, the sudden divorce of Luciano Pavarotti—who had praised his wife of 35 years for her faithful support—disappointed many. A home built over decades of trust and love collapsed in a single moment, and the pain of it touched us all.

As a pastor, I have met many couples who came to the parsonage seeking divorce as the solution to their problems—differences in personality, infidelity, financial strain, or issues with children. Some believed divorce was the answer to every difficulty. I even witnessed a mother urging her daughter to divorce, saying, “Just end it cleanly and start over with someone else. Isn’t that better?” But life is not so simple. In truth, nearly every divorced couple regrets their decision within three months. Their problems are not solved; instead, they face even greater pain and confusion.

No one desires the emotional and financial devastation that divorce brings. Everyone longs for a beautiful home and happy children. Yet the number of families standing at the brink of divorce continues to grow. Perhaps it is because we have forgotten the sacredness of marriage. When we insist on our own preferences—refusing to yield because we like something, or ending everything because we dislike something—we walk a path toward destruction. And the scars left behind will remain with our children for generations. Divorce holds no value worth admiring.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be kept pure, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” — Hebrews 13:4

“Each of you should learn to control your own body in holiness and honor, not in passionate lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:4–5

We pray for many things, but how often do we pray for the holiness of marriage? In a home where husband and wife pray for each other’s souls, there is no room for unfaithfulness. Even personality differences and financial hardships can be overcome through love. And we must not forget to pray for the future spouses of our children.

One young father in our church prayed earnestly for the future spouses of his three children—even though they were only in elementary school. He prayed because he knew that marriage might one day take them beyond the boundaries of their parents’ faith, yet God’s guiding hand would still be upon them.

I think of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, President Mandela and his wife, and Luciano Pavarotti. To keep one another’s body and soul pure for a lifetime is as sacred as the church’s devotion to Christ. To honor marriage is to live already in a paradise on earth. Outside this paradise, true happiness cannot be found.

— Yoon WanHee, 1999