Trusting God That Things Will Get Better

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

My husband and I are coming off a season of trials. Our youngest daughter, Ashley, was recently hospitalized for 18 days after weeks of being sick and in and out of the Emergency Room. While she was in the hospital, she had a complication with a procedure that made her worse than when she was initially admitted.

One of the complications she had was a cerebral spinal fluid leak. A typical response is a headache and vomiting. For some reason, Ashley’s body had a heightened response to this leak, causing severe pain for days. All we could do was hold her and try to console her, assuring her that this would pass and things would improve.

Through tears, Ashley would look at us and say, “How is this my life?” Her words crushed us as parents because we longed to remove her pain. The more I reflect on her words from that season of hardship, I realize how often we utter those words ourselves.

How is this my life?

You may whisper those words to God when you wonder why He brought your spouse home, but your marriage is still broken.

You may scream those words to the enemy while in your prayer closet and going to war for your family.

Ashley’s neurosurgeon walked into our hospital room one afternoon and sat beside me. I was hoping he was going to tell me the procedure that could be done and had a high probability of solving Ashley’s problem would be done ASAP. Instead, he looked me in the face and said, “This will get better.” Those are not exactly the words I wanted to hear. I wanted to be done with this season of hardship. I wanted Ashley back, pain-free, and feeling better. I didn’t want to wait for things to improve. I wanted a solution now.

Do you recall feeling that way when you were praying for marriage restoration? Or begging for your spouse to move home? That thing you prayed for has happened, but you are still in a season of hardship.

This will get better.  

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.  Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

It may feel like that is impossible right now. It may seem as if your hope for a loving, Christ-centered marriage is slipping through your hands because your spouse is still living with one foot in a prodigal life. Trust that God is in control. He sees every tear you are crying over your situation. He knows what tomorrow holds.

Don’t give up now!

Keep praying and fighting for complete restoration to come to your marriage. It is possible!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

God bless,