This is the conclusion of our discussion with Jim and David. They are two men with two different stories, but both point to the same faithful God. One has experienced the joy of a restored marriage. The other is still praying, waiting, and trusting for his marriage miracle to come.
In this episode, they share the ups, the downs, and the unexpected ways God has worked in their lives. Men, you’ll be challenged and inspired by their courage and faith, but women, don’t skip this one. You’ll gain powerful insight and encouragement for your stand as well.
Download the episode transcription here
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Here’s something that is never talked about, neither secularly nor in Christian circles: men are socialized to be loners. God recognized that loneliness for a man would be a problem. So, “…Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.””
Genesis 2:18 NKJV – We, men, NEED a companion! Interesting that God never said the same thing about Eve! But that female companion must be a wife, not just a woman. King Solomon wrote “ “He who finds a WIFE finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.”
Proverbs 18:22 NKJV emphasis mine). I once asked my mother, “If Jesus said ‘ “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.’
(Mark 10:9 NKJV) why did He allow men and women to divorce?” Being a mighty spiritual warrior that my mother was, she paused and said, “The question becomes; did God unite the divorced spouses or did they decide to marry on their own?” We men need a woman companion, but she must be chosen by God. It is God and alone who must lead us men to finding the woman-wife spoken of in the book of Proverbs. We, as Christians, must ask God to teach us to raise our children in a way that the enemy will find it almost impossible to attack men using loneliness. Praying that our boys will find the WIFE that King Salomon said “…finds a good thing.” We can defeat the enemy by learning what our vulnerabilities are! We will still have some casualties in this spiritual battle, but there will be more Spiritual First Responders who will know what to do to assist in the restoration!
Yes!! Amen to this
Extremely Encouraging, especially hearing from men! Thank you for locking shields with standers in this battle!
This discussions and testimonies by Jim and David are uniquely refreshing in that it’s uncommon to hear men standers speak openly about their marriage restoration journey.
Both of these men offer great insights in Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 of the podcasts. I got a renewed perspective about standing “as a gift” (re: Matt. 19), and that “standing is completely sacrificial”. I have been richly blessed and encouraged.
Thanks, Lori & Charlene, always for gladdening the stander’s heart with the blessed conversations in these podcasts! May the LORD continue to guide you and strengthen you in ALL things.
I have been standing for my marriage since November of 2007. When my wife announced her decision to divorce several months after separating from me, I wanted to confirm the Biblical permission to do so as I was guilty of pornography addiction not physical adultery. Although my otherwise very “conservative” church body permitted the divorce and her eventual remarriage, my research led me to Rejoice Marriage Ministries and multiple other resources that convinced me to conclude that the one flesh marital union that God joined together is for life regardless of any sin that has occurred in the ministry. Having been a pastor who had married people into adulterous remarriages in the past, I would never again do so should I ever be a pastor again and would urge those in adulterous remarriages to end them. Obviously this position has been one not accepted by the vast majority of pastors and lay people in my church circles and has alienated me from them, though a small handful are in silent agreement. My stand has been long and at times very difficult and discouraging, but so solidly rooted in Scripture that I authored a 70 page paper entitled “The Case for Ending Divorce and Remarriage in Our Christian Churches” that I hope someday would be published. I needed to hear the testimony of these two men as I was in a very low point on this particular day and was greatly encouraged by what they had to say.