Marriage Ministry Calls

I love the marriage ministry we’re a part of. Michael and I know without a shadow of doubt, that God has used it to save our marriage when we were convinced that there was no hope and divorce papers had been filed. And at times it gives us pause to think that just two short years ago we were in complete crisis and here we are coming out on the other side day by day and helping other couples get on their way to having an Outrageously Happy Marriage just as God intended.

As we have continued to grow and get healed, we embraced the opportunity to facilitate a marriage ministry call for couples based on what this ministry teaches (namely, a man will become the husband his wife needs him to be when he becomes the man that God called him to be) and how it’s helped us in our own journey. We’ve been doing this for almost a year now and it’s been awesome to watch it grow; not just the call we moderate but the other calls that the ministry offers as well – 2 years ago, there was just one and now there are more than 8. God is good!

Every call is awesome in and of itself and for us, well…the more we teach the more we learn so they’ve definitely been a blessing to us. And, for the most part, we finish the calls feeling pretty good about how they went. Every now and then, however, some of the calls are just really emotionally draining and while we’ve been told that when we hang up, we literally need to hang up and just let everything go, sometimes that’s hard to do. Last night’s call was one such as this.

It’s not often that Michael and I feel stumped by the hurt and dysfunction we hear about in the marriages of the people we talk to – we’ve been there ourselves. But I’ve got to tell you that last night was really difficult. And this particular couple has had just about everything you can imagine happen in their marriage. I know that God can work a miracle in this marriage…I just keep wondering if they’re willing.

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 142:10

I know that if Michael and I hadn’t been willing and teachable, our marriage wouldn’t be where it is today. It’s been HARD at times, really hard and most of us want the baby without the labor pains but that’s pretty much impossible. I just got off that call with a heavy heart for how much this couple is suffering only to wake up this morning with the same feeling inside. And then I think of John & Kate Gosselin and what they’re going through right now and how very sad their situation is as well (we watched that particular episode last night after the call…probably not such a good idea).

Don’t be fooled - Satan is working overtime to destroy our marriages. If he can get a foothold in them, he can take down generations in myriad ways.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may
have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but take heart!
I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

So today, I pray a hedge of protection around all of our marriages and our children and our children’s children and their marriages as well. Amen.