In this powerful episode of the Fight for Your Marriage Podcast, you’ll hear James share his remarkable journey of God’s redemption. James was once the prodigal spouse, running from God, running from his marriage, and unaware of the prayers being lifted for him day after day by his wife.
But then the roles unexpectedly reversed. His wife reached a breaking point and said she had finally had enough. She left. And suddenly, James found himself in a position he never imagined: he became the standing spouse, fighting and praying for his marriage.
James openly shares the heartbreak, the humbling, and the holiness of this season. He talks about what God has been teaching him and how He is using others to speak encouragement when he is weary.
Whether you are a prodigal, a stander, or someone who loves a prodigal, James’ testimony will encourage you to keep praying, keep believing, and keep trusting the God who restores.
Download the episode transcription here
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Thank you, James, for sharing your remarkable story. It’s very encouraging to hear your words and know about your faith journey. Keep up the fight!
Charlene, Lori, & RMM staff – I cannot thank you enough for shepherding God’s sheep. Your unwavering belief in God’s power to restore marriages is a ‘light in the dark’. Keep the lamp on!
James, former prodigal turned stander here! You can listen to my testimony a few podcasts ago (#217). 🙂 We’ve been standing almost the exact same amount of time (I’m a calendar watcher too)
Your story blessed my heart. Thank you so much for sharing. Keep standing strong, my brother!
James shared some eerily similar experiences with the Lord…Jehoshaphat’s situation, response and outcome being one of them.
Glory to God for His love, sovereignty and the way He involves Himself in the lives of His kids.
James, like Isaiah, said here am I LORD, send me.
I can only imagine how many lives are being touched by His people who join with Holy Spirit in this transformational dynamic of marriage challenges.
As believers, who are faithful through great difficulties, are transformed, we are much better able and equipped and empowered to shine the light of the gospel and live in the power of the Holy Spirit and minister mightily.
And while I wouldn’t wish the pains of the past brokenness on my worst enemies, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
In the words of Billy Graham when referring to past revival in prayer, “do it again, Lord, do it again.”
I don’t think I have much more left in me. I want to be obedient, God has already pulled me past the six-month mark, the one-year mark, the eighteen-month mark, the two-year mark, and I am in Church, I understand spiritual warfare very well, I pray for Sarah, our marriage, our family, several times per day, but I am absolutely exhausted, even with entreating the will, peace, patience, strength, and endurance of the Lord daily. I have already been raised in a life that was filled with hell, I went to hell in ’96 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and I am living a hellish life, now. There is definitely the fourth Man in my fire. I am grateful all the time for all the Lord has done, and He’s sent me affirmations and confirmations daily during the whole of this stand. He even kept me from asking someone out on a date not long ago, and then SHOWED me why. But, in Sarah’s free will she continues to dodge and He has not declared “Basta!”, yet, or “Dom!” for that matter. I am really hurting, I am very lonely, and I am exhausted.
I’m not looking for any manner of return on this, and I’m not trying to speak anything but truth, right now, where normally I speak life as much as I can. But, between my first and second marriages, I was unfettered, again in hell, for fifteen years, and I am NOT prepared to do that, again. Two years has already been too much. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” When do I get my tree of life; do I have to die before I see any good? If I were to tell you all the things I have suffered through in my life, you would be like my Counselor at Church, wondering at the miracles that have kept me alive all these fifty-four years.
Paul,
For whatever reason I’m looking through old emails and decided to review my post then I read yours for the first time today, February 19.
I appreciate how raw, real and honest you have shared and I will offer my time and ear and prayers to you.
My trials and turmoil have forged me and continue to do so and I have a mantra…Have Sword ⚔️ Will Travel.
If you are still struggling and even if you’re doing better but would like to talk or do breakfast sometime, I’m quite the cowboy warrior mercenary for the Lord.
Send an email if you get this and would like to talk to a brother who has been where you are.
Maybe the Lord would have me in a town near you sometime in the near future. 🙂
ralpheyg@gmail.com