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Lies leave us in an ugly pit, but The Truth lifts us up.
Psalm 40: 1I waited patiently for the Lord;he turned to me and heard my cry. 2He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. 4Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord
Not our home.
This place wasn’t our home, yet, but we googled our favorite Chinese restaurant after eating out of nearby drive-thrus for too long. Didn’t seem too far away, and we knew of the general area.
Following our car’s navigation, we turned right off of I-41 and into the shopping area, appetites whet for a good meal.
We proceeded to turn in circles and half-circles trying to find this place we so eagerly were looking for. Despite the continued message, “You have arrived at your destination,” we didn’t have any clue where it was.
Isn’t that frustrating? I remember my mom sitting in the front seat with a map, or atlas, opened up so big she couldn’t even see the windshield, and yet no matter what way she told my dad to go, he wouldn’t listen to her. If only she knew the prompts such as, recalculating, detour, stop route… Regardless, the navigation system she used didn’t seem to go much smoother when they were lost as does ours some 40 years later.
Frustrating marriage issues keep us driving in circles.
I don’t have a photo, but I wish I did. Then, that picture would certainly tell the story of 1,000 words. The fact is, we could have thrown a rock to the restaurant from the place we drove in circles. It was right there, but because we weren’t from here, we didn’t know it and we didn’t recognize it right in front of our faces.
And so it goes with the Lord.
As I think of the frustrating issues that keep Christian women spinning circles in the direction of their marriages, I can relate it to our search for Spicy Chicken and egg drop soup that day.
Part of the Family
If we know the Lord, we are privy to all He has for His own; we’re part of His family! Therefore, we don’t need to drive around aimlessly, but rather stop, look for and recognize what He puts before us. Those who do not belong to the Lord’s family won’t see it, for it’s hidden from them. When your family or friends dismiss your living faith for religion or the religious type, it’s because they have no connection to its truth; they don’t know what they don’t know. But we, Sisters, we are different. The Lord is the giver of all good things, and He doesn’t hide His knowledge and wisdom from us when we’re looking for it. It sure seemed like the gigantic stone building was hiding from us, but really it was right there in plain sight.
Right there in plain sight is so much for us, too. I was thinking about talking today about the pain and numbing that can come along with the maddening marriage problems that don’t seem to go away or change. Because they’re exhausting, and we get tired of trying any more things or one more time. But, I want to change our perspective today.
{Let’s revisit my steadfast disclaimer, don’t keep yourself in danger by staying in an abusive marriage. I am talking to women who are having a hard time in their marriage but who are in no danger from an abusive man. Please make a plan and get away if that is you. }
Climb out of that pit
No matter how much hurt your husband’s choices have caused. or for how long you’ve been praying for things to change, I want you to climb up out of that pit if just for a moment today. I know you may not see a reason to, but you are the reason to. God made you and loves you. He doesn’t want you sitting in the mire of the pit. Let Him take care of your husband, keep praying about that, but in the meantime, let’s find better for you!
I was sitting on my lanai during this morning’s thunderstorm, listening to How Great Thou Art a little while ago. Tears started rolling down my cheeks. I was overcome with the truth of who God is. Revisit the lyrics with me.
How Great Thou Art
O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sinThen sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow with humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art. Source: LyricFind
Persepctive & A Change of Heart
If you’re a Sister in Christ, we are in the same family. In this family, we are privy to the same blessings, benefits and beautiful truths from our Heavenly Father. Ones like these.
Psalm 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Psalm 33:8 Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Psalm 119:73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I’ve come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Psalm 38:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
No shortage of encouraging truth from God’s Word
We could go on and on in scripture as there’s no shortage of encouraging truths of God’s love and joy for us. What do we do with it-God’s Word? Do we believe it? Friends, in our homes, our marriages, our country, the world, it is evident like never before in my lifetime, that we are trying to find good and fight for what is right. There’s an impasse, though, when we strive for what is good and right without the irrefutable truth of God and His word. Evil, the battle between the flesh and the spirit for those who know God, will never be won or undone outside of the Lord.
When your husband doesn’t love you
Yes, it feels horrible, it hurts, it’s ugly and it’s just too much to live life feeling like our own husband doesn’t love us. And, to be honest, it may even be true. I wish I didn’t have to say that. BUT, Sister, that’s not where our worth is decided. Jesus died for you & me. And His great love for us proceeded and carried Him through the most horrific death. His-love-for-you, for me, hasn’t waned. His plan for abundant life in Him hasn’t changed. Change your thinking, listen to the voice of truth, read the Word’s of THE Truth. And as you do, may your heart be overcome with His love for you, and may you realize afresh and anew, How Great Thou Art!
Live life abundantly
This is my challenge today, sweet friends, don’t let the evil one use your husband to fill you with dejection and anguish. Trust God to work in your husband’s heart, and trust Him to give you life abundantly as you wait.
Out of the pit, into God’s Word, filled with His truth…Then sings my soul!
