Happy Word Women Wednesday to all you beautiful women! The birds are singing songs of praise already and it is still dark outside. Singing in the dark….hhuumm. Please open your hearts to sweet Wendy. I met her through Sibi’s post last Wednesday. Wendy has a heart to share her testimony of how God healed their marriage. Won’t you please show her some love and above all offer thanks to the ONE…the only ONE who can truly heal hearts yes?:) You can visit Wendy @ her blog A Daily Dose of Del Signore ** I apologize for the layout of this post. I copied it and every time I save it it runs sentences together etc…grateful for crazy computers:)
Have you ever had one of those days that a million thoughts are floating through your mind? The things you want to say, but don’t have the courage to display for the world? You worry about who will read it or if they will judge you. Then again, you are certain there will be a couple who do! There are some things others desperately need to hear, but you’re not sure you are actually brave enough to spell it out to them.
I’m having one of those days…..
I see people around me letting their marriages fall apart. They do absolutely nothing to save them. Or maybe they don’t know where to start. Maybe they feel hopeless and think their specific situation is beyond repair. My heart hurts for these people because it doesn’t have to be this way.
“For nothing is impossible with God”
~ Luke 1:37
I’ve hinted of the fact that Ryan and I are building an amazing testimony of how the Lord has worked miracles in our lives, individually and together. He’s not even close to being done! Every day God shows us something new in our marriage and in ourselves. What I want you to see is the progress we have made.
If I told you we almost called it quits, would you believe we’ve made it this far?
To be honest with you, there were times I just knew we wouldn’t make it.
God showed me how wrong I was.
The Lord wanted nothing more than to see our marriage work.
That’s how He designed it!
God showed me how wrong I was.
The Lord wanted nothing more than to see our marriage work.
That’s how He designed it!
In the past (before we let God have control of our marriage) I tried to “fix” Ryan’s problems. Somehow or another, I thought I knew what was best for him. Did I stop to look at anything wrong with myself?
Heck, no! I was as close to perfect as it got! <– You may insert as much sarcasm as possible here!
First of all, shame on me! The things I was working on changing in my husband were the things that made him who he was. He is such a wonderful, good hearted man. What the heck was wrong with me???
Second, God doesn’t make mistakes and He sure didn’t start with my husband!
I’m not saying Ryan was perfect in this whole equation, but I wasn’t making anything easy on us either!
We didn’t stop to embrace what made us amazing together. We just saw the little flaws….
We didn’t stop to think about the promises we made to each other and to God.
We didn’t stop to think about the promises we made to each other and to God.
We had a non-traditional family, a baby, and loads of stress piling up from every angle. It seemed like every time we turned around there was something else putting a strain on our marriage (Have you seen our renovation struggles? Ha!).
In all seriousness, I honestly believe we have been through more marital strain in our almost four years of marriage than your average ten year old marriage.
In all seriousness, I honestly believe we have been through more marital strain in our almost four years of marriage than your average ten year old marriage.
So what did we do? We kept on trying to fix things ourselves and keep everything hush-hush from our family and friends. I tried to medicate my problems away with hormones designed to fix hormones. I read book after book that guaranteed a way to fix our marriage. I talked until I was hoarse about what each expert said and what we should be doing.
Looking back, all I can say is, “What a joke!!!!”
All this led to was frustration when it didn’t work.
Guys, I wasn’t raised this way!
One thing my mother always taught me was to turn things over to the Lord.
Why couldn’t I do this????
It’s such a no brainer, simple concept.
Did I not trust the God that ensured my very own salvation to be able to save my marriage?
To this day, I cannot explain what held me back.
I was such a fool!
Looking back now, there was a specific breaking point for us.
There came a time that two of the closest people to us saw what we had kept hidden.
These people could have helped us long ago had we just asked for it.
Not only did they give us methods to cope with some of the strain of outside forces, but they shared the most important coping method:
Allowing God to come into our lives and marriage!
Ryan and I both were Christians already, but we chose right then and there to give all of our worries, issues, and struggles to God.
That right there is what it’s all about!
The weight of the world was lifted from our shoulders.
That right there is what it’s all about!
The weight of the world was lifted from our shoulders.
God will provide every single time!
He surrounded us with His unconditional love and took care of us.
He healed our hearts, strengthed the bond between us, and showed us a much better way to live.
The first thing I noticed was that God opened my eyes to my own faults and gave me a better heart to accept and truly love my husband. I walked away from all self-help books but one ~ The Bible. I stopped all medications and low and behold, my hormones acted better than they had since I was a teen! I prayed before I talked about touchy subjects between us.
I am so thankful we traveled this road together. I wouldn’t change a thing about it because I am here now telling you how great my God is.
I have come back to the unpublished version of this post several times. The whole time I prayed that God would give me strength to share this with you all. Not to brag at all, but to give hope. I know that if I am able to hit “Publish Post” on here, I can maybe inspire someone to stick it out. Ryan and I didn’t have the model marriage, but we make it work every single day. God is still working with us. We are very far from being “done”.
God has made it all possible!
God has made it all possible!
The biggest thing I have learned through this process is that God has shown me love and mercy when I least deserve it. It never ceases to amaze me. I have done so much wrong, He forgave it all.
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If you have some words of hope, encouragement or just a story to share please link your exact URL below. I will leave the linky open until Thursday @ 11:59 pm central.
Please go visit each other and leave a word or two to sharpen others would you?:) and if you will leave a link back to the House of Belonging. Thank you so much sweet, sweet friends!
Beautiful! Thank your for sharing your story with us. I am not sure why it is so hard to turn our marriage difficulties over to the Lord. Sometimes, I think people wait until their hearts check out. Emotionally they left the marriage long before they actually say anything. So glad you and your husband had the wisdom to communicate and seek Him!
I read this last week at Wendy's place. What a testimony of hope and restoration.
Sweet story of a fight worth fighting. He does come through every single time. Thank you for being brave and hitting that enter button!
I have always suggested to you, that the words and answers were right in front of you. Open the Bible and the words are there. Ask and you shall receive. He answers us. Sometimes it may take a little longer than what we would like, but his answers do come. So happy for this change. Love, Mom
Girls – I will be coming around tonight to visit all the linkups. I have a gazillion errands today I just don't want ya thinking I'm not coming;)xo
I am so glad you shared! It is hard to be vulnerable, open, and honest and maybe especially when you are sharing about such an intimate subject as a marriage! But this is so inspiring…
Marriage is so hard… everytime I see young and unprepared kids heading that way I feel such a rush of bittersweet for them…
Thank you for sharing your story…
What a beautiful story! It thrills my heart to see young couples work through the hard times and glorify God with what He has done through them.
Rejoicing,
Pamela
Yea! Praise party! So glad you are sharing your story. I love how you talk about the difference it makes allowing others into your life to help. Kingdom living is never about going it alone it's about relationship. Continue to be blessed. God is so good!
I love hearing and seeing the freedom that comes from sharing with others and letting God use them in our lives. Marriage is definitely a commitment but I so recognize how God never intended for us to live the Christian life alone. Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful story of restoration. I cannot tell you how many times me and my hubby came close to calling it quites. We both now say all the time that if it wasn't for Jesus, we would not be married still. He is one awesome Savior and Healer!
Wendy – Bravo to you for sharing your story! I am inspired and I know others are, too.
thanks for te wonderful comment today and for sharing your story…it was ministering really…relationships are not for the faint of heart…they take work…but the right kind…sounds like you are on a good road now…