When we meet with discouragement, what do we do with it?
There are situations in your marriage that will require you to make a choice right away. Your spouse might have done something that deeply hurt or offended you, and now you are faced with a dilemma: respond in a Christ centered way, or the world's way, which inevitably leads to remorse. As Oswald Chambers says, "Life serves back in the coin you pay..."
Do not
confer with “flesh and blood”, rather go to your Heavenly Father and spill out
your heart before Him. A popular Christian author and speaker says this: “Go to
the Throne, instead of the phone.”
Living in an unequally-yoked marriage is stressful enough. You don't need to increase your level of anxiety by creating problems where they don't exist. You might be
harboring resentment towards God for something you think He should have done in
your marriage or family. Maybe you're
upset because you were sure you heard from God, and now you doubt yourself and
His plans for your life.
You are at a
crossroads. Every decision leads you
somewhere. Your devastation can be
turned into a healthy regeneration.
A short Bible study will set the scene for us:
In II Samuel 12, King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan over his sin. This included lusting after and taking another man's wife, purposing to frame him for the pregnancy, and eventually plotting to kill him to cover his own sin. David was oblivious to the fact that it was him that the prophet was speaking of in the story he was telling the King. God directed Nathan to tell David, "You are the man!" After declaring to David that God had indeed blessed him, and would have done even more to exalt him in the eyes of Israel, Nathan proceeded to deliver an admonishment to the King from God, and pronounce a prophesy of doom on him and his household for the evil he had done.
In II Samuel 12, King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan over his sin. This included lusting after and taking another man's wife, purposing to frame him for the pregnancy, and eventually plotting to kill him to cover his own sin. David was oblivious to the fact that it was him that the prophet was speaking of in the story he was telling the King. God directed Nathan to tell David, "You are the man!" After declaring to David that God had indeed blessed him, and would have done even more to exalt him in the eyes of Israel, Nathan proceeded to deliver an admonishment to the King from God, and pronounce a prophesy of doom on him and his household for the evil he had done.
David was at a
standstill and a choice had to be made.
He admitted the secret sins and wailed, "I have sinned against the
LORD." At that moment, Nathan said
to him, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given
great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is
born to you shall surely die." It
was a horrendous penalty to pay for his sins, and it involved an innocent
victim. King David chose rightly because
he admitted his sin and accepted the consequences. He knew who God was and His
righteous character.
David wrote many of the stirring Psalms that we so dearly embrace and recite in times of despair. He used the time of restoration after his fall from grace to extol the virtues and mercies of God for all to reflect upon. He spent countless nights praising his LORD and giving thanks for the mighty hand that guided him into truth and grace, as he sought to live out his days as a "man after God's own heart." David pleaded with God to punish him, but not the child. However, God's Word stood and David accepted the consequence. He showed a level of maturity that we need to embrace.
When you are distressed and in deep despair, get alone with God and His Word. Do some true soul-searching. Bring all of your hurts and disappointments to Him.
God will
regenerate your thinking to line up with His thoughts, and align your will with
His. Instead of letting disappointment
overtake him, David ultimately accepted the circumstances and praised God for
them.
What took
place next is amazing. Verse 20 tells us
that, "David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and
changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and
worshiped."
David arose in the
newness of God's grace, and came forth from the grave of self-pity and defeat. He was regenerated by God's promises and
truths from His Word. Isaiah 61:3
declares the LORD will, "console those who mourn in Zion, to give them
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness..." Psalm 30:5
states, "For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping
may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." David saw the dawn of a new day in God's
sovereignty.
When we have
come face to face with a crisis that tears at the very core of your being, that
is when we must go to God and lean on His mercies.
Gain renewed strength from Who He Is. Rest assured
that His grace will be sufficient and His power adequate to sustain you in your
weakness (II Corinthians 12: 9-10).
Regenerate your spiritual life by renewing your mind and reinvigorating your faith walk. God will meet you at your weakest point to bring you to His best for your life...
Regenerate your spiritual life by renewing your mind and reinvigorating your faith walk. God will meet you at your weakest point to bring you to His best for your life...
Deborah
is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is
written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their
passion. It will encourage and challenge
the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. Visit http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com
others.
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