One night I watched this clip during an episode of The Big Bang theory with my husband, who I call my lovable, techy geek. If you’re familiar with this show, my guy is a combination of Sheldon and Leonard and Silicon Valley is his stomping ground—a world defined by scientific fact and computers. It’s who he is. As this scene ended, I burst out in laughter and said, “Wow, you can be scientifically mismatched too!”

My husband and I are a spiritually mismatched couple. I believe there is a mighty God—Abba, King Jesus, Holy Spirit—a Creator and Controller of the Universe. My husband does not. Thus we have a spiritual disconnect.

And watching this scene was like seeing a portrayal of a mismatched couple. Near the end of this clip, the character Leslie asks Leonard, “How will we raise the children?” 

This very same question also enters the spiritually mismatched marriage too, either with mutual agreement or animosity. What will the children be taught about God when two parents have such vast and differing beliefs of the very definition of life? I believe this is at the heart of our instruction in the Bible not to be unequally yoked. There is no way to find a meeting in the middle of two beliefs that contradict each other at such a foundational level other than to agree to disagree. God can’t exist half way.

The reality is, both parents have “equal right” to share their beliefs with their children. I kow that may be difficult to hear but do hear me out. The key is doing it respectfully of each other—and more importantly, to trust God. Not an easy challenge but one that is crucial not only to our children but also to the unbelieving spouse, who I prefer to call a prebeliever. In a mismatched marriage, our actions speak so much louder than our words, and even in such a situation as this, God can use the circumstances to woo our prebeliever closer to Him.

Like Leonard’s suggestion, my husband and I agreed I could take them to church as long as they would be allowed to freely make their own choice when they were old enough. I agreed and kept my word, as did my husband. I trusted my God to be faithful and He was. Both my girls accepted Jesus at a young age and have embraced their own faith walk as adults.

No matter how we wind up mismatched, Abba’s heart is for all to know Him (2 Peter 3:9), especially our children. To read and walk through the Old Testament is to see a God who is constantly seeking to make a covenant with His people that will last into the generations to come. And the New Testament continues that story of pursuit with His Son Jesus bringing from life to death and back to life again the full picture and depth of the Father’s love for His people that cannot be broken (Romans 8:38-39).

And He is passionately faithful to a mother’s prayers (James 5:16). What the characters Leslie and Leonard don’t have or understand is that the Creator of the universe (whether stringy or not!) is the God of the impossible.

As moms who know, love and seek Jesus, nothing is impossible (Phil. 4:13). Trust Him for He is faithful! Dineen