A special thank you to our “An Impossible Marriage” podcast episode guest Laurie Krieg!
An impossible marriage & Same-sex attraction: With laurie krieg
Wrestling with God: A Path to Understanding
In Genesis 32, Jacob has an encounter with God, wrestling with Him throughout the night. As dawn breaks, God blesses Jacob and sends him on his way. Theologians often compare this wrestling to David’s struggle with God in 1 Chronicles 13 and Jesus’ prayer to the Father in Matthew 26. This back-and-forth with God—wrestling with what He asks of us—is a recurring theme in Scripture and should be a regular part of our own lives.
God welcomes our wrestling, or as James describes it, the “testing of our faith.” He knows us intimately (He made us, after all!), understanding that our minds are easily swayed and our flesh is weak. Yet, He invites us to engage with His Word, pour out our thoughts, and ask Him the hard questions we struggle with.
The Purpose of Sex, Marriage, and Oneness
One of the most pressing questions in today’s hypersexualized and morally confused world is:
“What is the purpose of sex? Of marriage? Of intimacy and oneness?”
Surprisingly, the answer is not primarily about us. Instead, it is about something far greater. As with all things designed by God, the purpose of sex and marriage is ultimately to bring glory to Him. Because He loves us and wants to show us what it means to be loved by Him, He allows us to take part in something beyond human explanation—a mystery and a metaphor at the same time.
Ephesians 5:21-33 beautifully describes this metaphor through the design and purpose of marriage. A husband and wife, two distinct individuals—different in sex, soul, mind, and body—are called into a holy covenant. They commit to love and cherish one another, daily dying to themselves in pursuit of greater unity.
Marriage as a Reflection of Christ and the Church
This covenantal union reflects Christ’s relationship with His people, the Church. He sacrificed Himself so that we might enter into covenant and union with Him. His perfect love binds our souls to Him.
What greater display of this unexplainable, immeasurable love than the union of two broken, imperfect people who—against all odds—become one? Marriage, by worldly standards, is impossible. And yet, through God’s design, it thrives.
The impossibility of marriage—two flawed individuals becoming one despite their differences, pasts, sins, and imperfections—is a reflection of something even greater: a broken, sinful person becoming one with a perfect Savior. This is the marriage of Christ and His Bride, the Church.
Sex: A Glimpse of Eternal Oneness
Within this covenant of marriage is sex—designed by God as a glimpse of the future, eternal oneness we will experience with Him. It is a hint, a taste, of the goodness to come. Because God created sex, He made it to be good. It serves as a promise that the deep longing within our souls will one day be fully satisfied. We will be complete, in perfect union with Him.
Just as we are called to love God with our whole being—body, mind, and soul—He desires our full surrender, not just for devotion’s sake, but for His Kingdom’s work.
The Call to Fruitfulness and Discipleship
A beautiful example of this is seen in children. Through the physical union of husband and wife, children are brought into the world. When raised in faith, they become disciples of Christ. In this, we see God’s perfect design intertwined with His purpose—calling us to be fruitful, multiply, and make disciples. If we have the eyes to see it, we recognize that His plan is woven throughout creation, pointing us toward Jesus and His coming Kingdom.
Wrestling Leads to Revelation
So, like Jacob, wrestle with God. Ask Him the hard questions—the ones that stand between you and full surrender. He will answer, though perhaps not in the way you expect. But in His response, you will see the goodness of His character.
