Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
Praise Him that His love endures forever because at times it seems like this is taking forever…waiting for my husband…standing for my marriage. But wait! Didn’t I sign up for this? Didn’t I promise God, and myself, that I would do this? That I would be in it for the long haul? (The definition of a long haul is a prolonged and difficult effort or task.)
On some days the haul (the load) seems lighter than on other days. Why? Because I share it with Him! And because on those days I realize He actually has the whole thing and I can relax. The weight of my situation need not be heavy at all if I would just remember that. And if I would also consider it a privilege to be doing what I am doing.
What is it that I am doing anyway? Well, let me put it this way. I am obeying my Lord. He has made it abundantly clear what He wants and expects of me. He has called me to do this. And I really have no choice but to follow His desire which in essence is His will. I cannot deviate from the path He has set for us together.
Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5
The word “together” used to mean my husband and me. Then I left him after our adult son went to Heaven after we cared for him for many months. The tragedy brought a disconnection and I fled. I left expecting to end the marriage but had my own Damascus Road experience and God woke me up. After a year, my husband accepted me back and gave up the woman he met while I was gone. Later he reversed course and now our divorce is close to being finalized.
God has been faithful and true. He has worked miracles inside and outside the courtroom. There have been incredible and timely signs, wonders and promises. I have been given opportunities that were clearly the favor of God. Too many God-incidences to count. My testimony astounds others and I am blown away more than anyone. I am humbled and so in love with Him. I wouldn’t have traded this for anything. The pain has been worth it. I praise Him continually!
It is clear the Lord is working. I see my husband’s heart softening yet a divorce decree looms. A divorce? How else could God get my attention? How else could He change me? How else could He show me His power? How else could I have the opportunity to have total obedience and the faith to do things that don’t make sense to my mind (dismiss my attorney and go to court twice with Him as my Counselor)? Only then could He demonstrate His power in front of others and be the mover and shaker that He is!
Let us continue to allow our Lord to shake things up.
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” Hebrews 12:26
I have told my husband I could not accept his love or love him or love myself until I loved God. What this has done is let me know how much my Lord truly loves me, and it’s become so easy to love Him in return.
I believe in my Lord’s promises. He has given me hope…and the strength to follow Him…and to believe and trust in Him…and to have faith.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Gratefully hauling the load with Him,
Ruth in Arizona
Rejoice Marriage Ministries
Thank you Ruth! Father help us stand strong and finish strong!
All hail King Jesus
All hail, King Jesus
All hail the Lord of heaven and earth
All hail, King Jesus
All hail the Savior of the world
https://youtu.be/cIYPeWYx4qI
Wow Ruth! I wish I could connect with you. Our stories are similar in some ways. I did not leave my husband – but in the fact that were in the legal process & I had an amazing Christian attorney & God told me he served his purpose I do not need him any longer – that He is my attorney my defender. Then same week I find out I got rid of mine, my husband got rid of his! My husband is still adamant he wants the divorce, but God keeps giving me Psalm 33:10-11 that He is thwarting & frustrating the plans & its His intentions that will stand firm forever. We have been tossed from one judge, to the next & now we have someone else. We have not even stepped foot into a court room or done anything at all. It’s been a year long process of nothing & then God just revealed to me that verse about “thwarting the plans” & keeps using the word “thwart” with me. I don’t know what God is doing, but I know He promised me a restored marriage & maybe we’re just taking the long way…
I also read one of Charlyne’s devotionals months ago & she said how she cried out to God & heard in her spirit “it is finished” I asked God in that moment when my restoration gets close would He tell me the same thing “it is finished” that was months ago.
Now in the last 3 weeks I have heard it 5 times. I don’t see anything, but I specifically asked Him to tell me this when it gets close. I just have to remind myself He is God, He wouldn’t lie to me or string me along. He knows what He is doing.
Ánimo consumado es … Dios está de tu lado.
Y sus planes siempre prevalecen
Yeay! I hope you write this in the testimonies!
Reading Ruth testimony was amazing
Mackenzie your journey and your strength is incredible God bless you.
I am in similar path I was the one who was saying to my husband if he can not the right by me and our children he should be leave.
Now he has left I am praying day and night seen my kids pain is hard.
I begged and begged my husband and he is still adamant he wants divorce.
Now my lawyer has asked to turn all the paperwork and my heart is bleeding.
I am praying for God restoration for all of our marriages.
Divorce is not God will but our doing.
God bless you
Bless you Ruth! This is truly how I feel and think often. The other times I am down. But as of yesterday I have made the resolve it doesn’t matter what I feel, think or see. I just have to be obedient. Cut out the feelings when they turn negative.
Bless you Bianca
Today I was down and I was on my knees praying to God while I am waiting for my marriage to restored to give the strength to be obedient.