My heart was filled with hope this morning as Dave and I prayed together for each other, our marriage, and our family. I have to say that the one of the best things about being equally yoked, and equally in sync with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the power and hope that comes as we join our hearts before the throne.
I am certain that our marriage would not be what it is today if it were not for the powerful hand of God in our lives. I am so grateful for a husband who prays with me, for me, for our family, and the will of our Father over our lives. Dave is a strong leader who desires to please God more than anything. The Faith that we hold together has been a driving forward force in our walk together as man and wife toward living exclusively for our God, and declaring our home, God’s home.
No one could have prepared us for the difficulties or pain that the last year has held. For two people who feel deeply, it could have been nearly crippling if it were not for the solid Truth of God’s promises and hope. The adjustment, six hurting teenagers ranging from 14-19, ex-spouses (and all that they bring to the mix), a range of emotions that are best described as a hurricane at best. So many factors to consider, and even as you consider them- nothing can fully prepare you for the continual blows of second marriage and Stepville living.
I liken it to watching your children falling off a cliff and being unable to really save them. You reach, you cry out, but there is no way humanly possible to grab them and rescue them from the fall. I realize that rescuing them from the fall is not my job, but God’s alone. I can offer truth, guidance, protection to some extent, but they are responsible for their choices and their response to pain. The only one who truly rescues us from the fall is God Himself. For it is in the “fall”, that we can be truly “found” if we allow God to use the pain as a tool to do His incredible work.
For what the enemy means for destruction and devastation- God means to redeem & bring to life again, for His glory- if we will just allow Him. (Genesis 50:20)
God is Sovereign. He has the final say. He gets to write the final page in the story… and this story isn’t over yet. He has just begun to chase after the hearts of our children. It is our duty to pray for them, example godliness to them-even, and especially when it’s hard, and trust them in the hands of the Almighty. That is the truth that we cling to each day.
There are days that we look around our home and see it as a hospital for a bunch of wounded, hurting people. Each of us bearing wounds from the sinful choices of others. Each of us bearing scars from our own sinful choices that we have made in our sinful response to the pain. But we hold to the hope that God has a very specific plan and work for each of us- HE will complete the work that He has begun here. Regardless of how despairing things look in the moment, the one thing we can depend on other than God is change. What we see as struggles now, will be something different in a matter of a moment. God is with us in that change. He is weaving His story in our lives, if we are willing. He is fashioning us into His likeness, He is creating intricate works of art that are called to shine for His Kingdom. He is doing this for us, and our children.
Thankfully, my dear husband has encouraged me to stand back from the circumstance and see that we are in process. The end isn’t here. God hasn’t left our children. He desires for them to be Completely His, even more than we do. Trusting Him, relinquishing them all into His hands, realizing they were His to begin with anyway, bringing them before the throne each day, and knowing that God sees the end game. Resting in the Sovereignty and all encompassing, all inclusiveness of our King.
Many nights I wake and pray for our six incredible kids. My heart aches at all that they have had to go through. It hurts for the ridiculous scars that they have to bear. This morning our gracious King reminded me of a verse, and I want to share it with you.
Proverbs 23:18
Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Reminds me of another verse that has sustained me in my own walk..
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”
We can rest in the midst of our pain and struggles with parenting and combining families as we hold on to the truth that He has plans for a hope and a future for us all.
May God be Praised!
