When Your In-Laws Are Not Christians - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - February 23
Crosswalk Couples Devotional
Audio By Carbonatix
By Vivian Bricker, Crosswalk.com
When Your In-Laws Are Not Christians
By: Vivian Bricker
“Live honorably among the unbelievers. Today, they defame you, as if you were doing evil. But in the day when God visits to judge they will glorify him, because they have observed your honorable deeds” (1 Peter 2:12, Common English Bible).
It is more common than you think: there are many Christians who have difficult in-law relationships because of the simple reason that their in-laws are not Christians. Since their in-laws are not Christians, they have little to nothing in common with them. This can cause discord and conflict in many ways. Rather than allowing this to negatively affect your marriage, there are many things you can do.
With the assumption that your spouse is a believer, it is important for you and your spouse to show the love of Jesus in your actions and words. Even if your in-laws are not nice to you, there is no reason to repay evil with evil (1 Peter 3:9). Although your in-laws might be hateful toward you, you have to return their hate with love. This is a challenge because it does not come naturally to us.
We have to take the incentive to follow Jesus and to love others as He loves us. This means we need to go out of our way to help our in-laws, show them love, and be kind. The good news is that we are not alone in this situation—God will help us. All we have to do is turn to Him in prayer and ask for His help. Never believe the lie that God wants you to suffer through this harassment.
God will help you as you navigate this difficult relationship with your in-laws. Sadly, some people choose to dislike us just because we are Christians. It could be that your in-laws have had bad interactions with Christians before, or maybe they went to a church that wasn’t kind toward them. While we might never know the reason why they are hateful toward us, we need to continue to be the hands and feet of Christ.
On the other hand, it could be that your in-laws are wonderful people, but they don’t know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. This would cause you to worry about their eternal destiny. One could argue that this is even harder, given that they are really kind people. This poses a challenge all on its own that you and your spouse will have to work through.
Our Bible passage today can help you with this very need. The Apostle Peter says, “Live honorably among the unbelievers. Today, they defame you, as if you were doing evil. But in the day when God visits to judge they will glorify him, because they have observed your honorable deeds” (1 Peter 2:12, Common English Bible). As Peter tells us, we need to live honorably among the unbelievers. Even though they might discredit us, they will give glory to God on the day He comes because they would have seen your honorable works.
Follow this example as you are trying to help your in-laws come to know the Lord. This will help them see the love of Jesus in your life. With time and prayer, they will be more inclined to hear about Jesus. Continue to share the Gospel with them and point them to the Lord. Although you cannot make them place faith in Jesus, you can show the Gospel in your life and in your words. We are not responsible for making anyone accept Jesus, but we are responsible for sharing the Gospel.
Whether our in-laws are nice or mean to us, we still need to share the Gospel and display the Lord's love in our lives. This will help present Jesus to them in a tangible way. Pray for them and ask the Lord to bring them to Him. Jesus will answer your prayers and give your in-laws the chance to believe in Him. He has already given them many chances, and He will continue to give them a multitude of opportunities to place their faith in Him.
“Dear Jesus, please help my in-laws to come to know You. They are not Christians, but I want them to place faith in You. I give all of my worries, troubles, and concerns to You. Thank You for Your goodness. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate.
Related Resource: The Five Languages of Apology, with Dr. Gary Chapman
In this insightful episode, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with Dr. Gary Chapman, renowned author of The Five Love Languages and The Five Languages of Apology. Together, they explore how understanding both love and apology languages can radically improve relationships. Dr. Chapman unpacks the five core ways people express and receive love—and explains how offering sincere, well-matched apologies can be just as vital to healing and connection. The conversation highlights the power of empathy, emotional communication, and forgiveness in maintaining strong, healthy relationships. Whether you're married, dating, or simply want to love others well, this episode offers powerful tools to deepen your relational bonds. Like what you hear? Be sure to follow I Wish You Could Hear This on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
