Nothing is impossible with God! Our guests, Brad and Anne share how the slow drift apart fractured their marriage. Their powerful restoration story is a story of forgiveness, healing, and recommitment.
Stander’s Affirmation: https://rejoiceministries.org/a-standers-affirmation-3/
Restored & redeemed: http://eepurl.com/hy9ieD
Too Good to Not Believe: https://youtu.be/lKVX_XdaP04
Amazing! Once again, many overlaps with my own story, especially with regard to changing US first! After everything fell apart in my marriage, I began to point fingers and do you know what happened? In His mercy and grace, every one of those fingers pointed right back at me! Like the mote and the beam! So began the work in my own life which continues to do this day. Thank you so much for sharing your story, and for your work, Rejoice Marriage Ministries.
Thank you so much, Kate. And we, too, are SO appreciative of Rejoice Marriage Ministries!
This was truly a beautiful life-story of God’s redemption and marriage restoration. I pray that my marriage will be restored in Jesus’ Name. Thank you Anne and Brad for your transparency. May God continue to bless and keep their family.
Thank you so much, Anna.
I’m very encouraged. Thanks so much for this!
We are so glad this was encouraging–we all need encouragement so much!
Dear Anne and Brad,
Ik know it’s not true, (thank God for that) but I feel God used your testimony to encourage especially me. In the Netherlands on the other side of the globe. What will stick to me is ” worship not rationalize or analyse” I also can’t say I desire but I am committed to believing God can and so I will wait for restoration of my marriage. He is able and also if He
choses not to I will not bow down. Comparing to the two of you I’m just a puppy with my 6 year stand. That also is a comfort hearing of longer restoration stories. Brad thanks for you speaking your heart and your honesty, proving Gods power that He is a God that can and does work miracles. I could listen to you for many hours. Anne I can’t wait till your Book’s finished.
On top of it all the verse from Malachi is the verse I incripted in my husbands weddingring back in 99. Thank you, thank RMM and Thank God. Praise Him. Halleluja.
Esther
Amen! Praise the Lord for the way He has used this testimony to speak to your heart. We are praying for your family, Esther. Keep fighting for your marriage.
Yes!
Hi Esther, we have been eager to respond to your meaningful comment but were having a little trouble (technically) doing so. We are so glad that what we shared was encouraging. With you having stood for your marriage for six years, I don’t think of you as a “puppy” at all! You seem like a faithful veteran! And the fact that the Malachi passage has been so important to you, too, was such a neat connection. May God continue to help and bless you in your stand for your marriage. YOU have encouraged US!
Praise the Lord!!!! He is amazing. What a great story!
Yes, He is so amazing! Thank you for your comment!
I really wanted to listen to this testimony but I had a hard time hearing some of the people talking. It was like they turned away from the microphone and I couldn’t hear what they said. It sounded like an awesome testimony.
So sorry you had trouble hearing this. We had the voices drop off a couple times but it was mostly clear. Thank you for trying to listen.
Oh my God!! I needed to hear this today!! What evidence of God’s faithfulness!! He is the God who makes the impossible possible. Glory to God!! God bless Brad and Anne and their family!!
Thank you so much!
So encouraged by this testimony. Thank you Brad and Anne for sharing your testimony. God bless you and your family. Thank you Charlyne, Lori and RMM staff for the daily encouragement to stand strong and not give up. This testimony gives me so much hope of how nothing is impossible with God and how God can reach my husband anywhere!
Amen! God is able to do far more than we can imagine.
Yes! He is the God of the Impossible! And we, too, are so thankful to Charlyne and Lori and all of Rejoice Marriage Ministries. Charlyne and Lori were so great to talk to and had such good questions and loving, listening ears.
Huge thanks to Brad & Anne for sharing your testimony – a powerful show of God’s amazing grace and mighty power. Charlene & Lori – may the LORD continue to expand your territory as you shepherd His sheep!
Amen! We are thrilled to hear that Brad and Anne’s testimony encouraged you. Thank you for your uplifting words!
Amen! May God guide and bless Rejoice Marriage Ministries, leading them in His way.
thank you. It seems like the same timeline as my husband and i are facing. We were married in 78 separated in 2001 and divorced in 2006. He married and divorced and struggling with financial and legal issues because of this. When I first started this walk I too looked up the internet and found Rejoice Marriage Ministries after talking with our friend and pastor who said it didn’t do any good to save the marriage. Been standing all this time. We finally connected at our son’s wedding in October and we have been mending fences ever since. Long and slow process. He thinks we are friends and that’s it. I have shown him that I am grown which kind of surprises him. He sent me my first Mother’s Day card this year (PTL). My son is hurting so we have alot on our plate.it is far from over. I know I have done wrong in our relationship and my friends and family don’t think so. I am sure that we will get back together when we turn that corner with God saying it is finished. He has alot of work for us and I am learning every day. My family friends think we instantly will get back together and they see disaster. Of course, God’s not done yet. I cannot accept him back because I want him to get right with God and that is God’s goal too. Really trying for my husband and my son to see the light and not have to walk in darkness. PLease pray for us and all other standers who think this is fast and easy and the prodigal will come instantly and loving. I see it doesn’t work that way. Once a stander always a stander.
Praise the Lord for the healing that has taken place. It is a journey. That is why Charlyne says, “Once a stander, always a stander.” You never stop praying for your marriage, even after restoration. Fabian and Luz have a powerful testimony of restoration and then Fabian’s salvation. He came home unsaved and was changed by the godly example Luz was to him. You can find a podcast from them and several testimony teachings in our bookstore. https://rejoiceministriesbookstore.myshopify.com/collections/testimonies
Rose, I so appreciate your comment. It IS uncanny how many shared connections we have, in timing and circumstances. I really understand how it can be hard when well-meaning friends and relatives are not fully supportive. I definitely experienced that. And our sons had so much to work through, and actually, are still working through things even as there is great joy in our family’s restoration. I rejoice with you that your husband sent the Mother’s Day card–an encouragement! And I so agree with the statement of Charlyne’s (quoted below), “Once a stander, always a stander.” Her encouragement to keep praying even after the prodigal returns or begins to return is some of the best advice I received from the ministry. It is not an easy path, but it is such a rewarding one. May He continue to give you much grace and wisdom as you walk it.
Gday Charlyne, Lori and the team. God bless you all just because of who you are.
My question/thought is on forgiveness.
I struggle to understand what we call and are taught what forgiveness is. From a Biblical perspective I understand forgiveness is to forgive and forget, which (to me) means there’s no talking about it later coz it’s forgotten. Then there’s the whole “trust” issue. If it’s an issue then have we really forgiven? My marriage is not yet restored but as Jesus has forgiven all my sins – past, present and future, so I forgive myself, my wife, my family and others.
Charlyne you said the devil reminds us “look what they’ve done” and that we are to take our thoughts captive. May I suggest we repeat those same words back to that devil adding and look where it got you eternally speaking.
Just some thoughts.
Thanks for sharing, Geoff. Great thoughts! Forgiveness is like giving up your right to continue the cycle of hurt because of a past offense. We aren’t God, so we can’t necessarily forget. However, we can ask the Lord to take our thoughts captive, as you mentioned, and not dwell on the situation. There will be boundaries and trust that need to be rebuilt in a healed marriage. The offense or offenses would need to be discussed so that going forward, there could be healing and a plan so the guardrails you set up in your marriage can do their job. Forgiveness says, “I want to help both of us not go through this again.” I think of one couple that had a struggle in their marriage with unfaithfulness. Once the sin was exposed, healing had to take place. Forgiveness was offered by the wife, but often there are check-ins. They both agreed that her questions are fair when she asks, “Are you remaining pure in our marriage? Are you struggling with sinful thoughts? How can I help you with that?” It has given the husband a safe space to receive prayer specific to the temptation he is feeling. The enemy wants us to sit in unforgiveness and bitterness. God wants us to love as He does and allow Him to redeem what the enemy tried to steal. Thanks for sharing! You brought up a great topic, Geoff.
I love your thoughts, and the RMM response to your comment. I just wanted to add…. When one of our sons pondered talking to his dad about past hurt he was hesitant to because he felt, “I’ve forgiven him–doesn’t it seem unforgiving to revisit the past?” A wise counselor told him, “I think your dad would want you to share.” Brad DID want this and our son shared, not maliciously but honestly, and it was wonderful. In fact, there are pieces from that time that still need to be revisited, and love makes us willing to do all that is needed to help others heal. Thank you, Geoff, for sharing your thoughtful questions.
Thank you for that testimony it touched my heart. I am the stander and I have been praying for a long time for my husband and our marriage.
We are so happy this testimony was an encouragement. We are praying for a breakthrough in your situation, Kelly. Don’t give up (Jeremiah 32:27).
The road can seem so long! May the Lord continue to help you and encourage you. Thank you for sharing.
We are so thrilled this episode is resonating with so many of you!
I was so blessed to hear the testimony of Brad and Anne. Being a fellow long term stander for my marriage, it gives me hope that others have remained in the fight for extended periods & were blessed.. The Lord gave me a similar message, needing to work on me first. I know His work will never be finished, but I am so much closer to the Lord now. Continuing to pray & wait!
We relate so much to the way the Lord has brought us closer to Him through this journey. May He continue to give you strength and patience, joy and faith.
Like so many others that have communicated below, this came from God for “such a time as this” in my life. I have tossed giving up for so many reasons multiple times a day. I get exhausted with my own inconsistencies of the back and forth of standing. Thank you so much for sharing your story. My heart and ears needed to hear this!
Melissa, I (Anne) often noticed how my emotions would vacillate, and how often the enemy taunted and tempted. We are so glad this came at a timely moment to encourage. We are all in this together for Jesus’ sake!
“Obedience is extremely underrated in the Christian community” best quote from this podcast. So impressed with both of you for obeying the Lord. It sounds like you are experiencing blessings for doing so! What a reward for your children that you restored your marriage!
Thank you Brad and Anne for sharing your story! It has helped to strengthen and confirm my commitment to stand for my prodigal of 14 years. I have chosen the way of faithfulness (Psalm 119:30) and I know my God will act on my behalf! Blessings!
Amen! We are so happy to hear Brad and Anne’s testimony encouraged you. We are praying for your husband to return home.
This has really helped me.
I am at the beginning of my journey to restore my marriage. Feeling at a loss of how to take the first steps, I found this podcast (seemingly at random but I know now it was meant to be) through a search engine. I couldn’t believe the first title that caught my eye was this one, as my husband’s name is also Brad. It feels like I am on the right path now.
Thank you for sharing and inspiring me to continue.
Aimee