Don’t let anyone ever tell you that what you are doing is not making a difference. Two things happened this past week that once again confirmed the power of standing in the gap.
The first one involved a young couple we know. They have been experiencing a lot of financial difficulty during these trying times and, as usual, financial pressures put a good deal of stress on their relationship. They had separated a couple times in the past few months and those around them were beginning to speak about a possible divorce. We hate hearing those words spoken by or about any couple and so we contacted them. We did not just want to talk to them about their marriage. We knew they needed to feed their children and pay bills and so we gave them a financial blessing as well as words of encouragement.
We reminded them that neither of them is the enemy and that their one enemy wants to destroy their lives and their family. We encouraged them to stand together during these stressful times and walk in unity with the Lord. And we prayed for them.
We saw them this week and it was hard to believe they were the same couple as before. They were standing so strong in faith and shared several miracles they had seen in just the past week. God has provided a home for them and other financial breakthroughs are coming. They were giving Him glory and praise and we were so blessed to see the change God had made in their hearts and their lives. She gave me a big hug and said, “Thank you for being there for us. Your words of encouragement meant more than you know.”
Sometimes a few words make all the difference in the world.
The second situation involves another young couple. They worked with us in the ministry for many years. The Lord had done miracles in their own marriage and they had a heart to reach out to other couples. Through their lives many were touched and changed.
A few months ago we read on her page that they were divorcing. We were shocked. We had seen her just a short time before that and had talked about a number of things but not once had she mentioned that they were having trouble. Her posting made a statement about her husband changing completely from what he had been before.
They knew the truth. They had taught it to others. They had stood and fought with others for their marriages and homes and yet when the heat was on, their marriage was taken out. It broke our hearts but the real tragedy had not yet come.
This past week someone showed us a picture online of the husband. I will not go into detail but it was obvious that he was not serving the Lord. How he got where he is I do not know. But I do know that’s not where God wants him to be. What gripped me most, though, were his eyes. They had always sparkled with life, actually twinkled. But now they looked dead. I couldn’t stop staring at them. It was as if someone had taken out his soul.
In the past few days as we celebrated Thanksgiving and remembered once again all the blessings God has poured out in our lives, I couldn’t stop thinking about the second young couple. I kept wondering, what if she had stood? What if she had stood in faith, believing what God says about him? What if she had fought the enemy on his behalf? What if she had been his chief intercessor? What if she had told the devil he couldn’t have him?.
What if she had believed that their covenant was stronger than the lies of the enemy? What if she had believed that God is more powerful than the devil? What if she could have loved him when he was unlovable? What if she could have seen him with eyes of faith? Would his eyes look so dead today?
Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you are not making a difference. The love of God, the compassion of God, the power of God, and the victory of God are in your prayers. Don’t give up. Don’t abandon your spouse to the circumstances of his or her choosing. Stand firm and draw your strength from the Lord. Those who have made poor decisions and surrounded themselves with impossible circumstances need those who stand in the power of God. Don’t give up! Love, Marilyn
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” Proverbs 24:11
Marilyn, I want to encourage YOU! I check your blog several times a week hoping to "hear" from you. I commented on your last post (I'm the one whose family member sent me a copy of "First Aid.")
My husband and I are three months into our recovery from his two affairs. Your insight continues to be a tremendous help to us. I have read many books and articles and online information on marriage healing after infidelity.
The one thing that consistently seems to be missing from most of the materials is the fact that this is warfare! My husband -like the husband in the second couple- nearly lost his soul. He has known the Lord nearly all his life but the enemy was able to get a hold of him and ALMOST destroy him and our family.
You helped me to see and know the TRUTH… If God be for us, who can be against us? We have to stand!
I pray that you will be able to keep reaching people with the Truth. And I thank you again for being such a strong voice of encouragement to me and others.
Still Standing in Alabama <3
Hello,
Nov.28th is our wedding anniversary.
My husband left our family 2yrs. ago and is in an adulterous relationship. From the beginning of this heartbreak I felt the Lord hold me tight and strengthen my hands for war. He has given me many scriptures to encourage me regarding His vision for my husband and to pray those scriptures over him. I was so grateful to receive in the first year of our separation the booklet "First Aid…" from my sister-in-law as an encouragement. I still refer back to it when I am discouraged about how long this battle is going on for. I know that I have to give God time. I also know that it's not wise to judge the outward appearance because it doesn't tell me anything about his heart. I guess I am getting good practice on waiting on the Lord and allowing my heart to become strong and enduring.
This is the first time I've visited this website. I didn't know there were so many people willing to fight for their marriage.
Thank you for your heart and ministry!
Very encouraging. This is warfare! Keep up the good work and spread the good news. May God bless you abundantly!
Thank you so much for "First Aid," it helped me through the worst time of my life, when my husband left me for another women. After standing for my marriage and trusting God for the Godly recovery of it for 4 months, we are now almost 5 months on the road of recovery. The emotional healing now is a very bumpy and difficult road where you can feel so alone. Somedays I wake up and wonder if I will ever recover completely? I do know all things are possible with God!!! What I do find difficult, somedays more than others, are the spiritual war in your mind of not being good enough, beautifull enough for him, to discard the spirit of fear and mistrust, to deal with the anger and to FORGIVE "her" and all the others I don't know by name or face, not to turn to self pity and giving up on this fight against the power of darkness. I do know that God will not dissapoint but to get through this time time is not an easy road.