God Can Save Your Marriage, More Than You Can Imagine, part 3
This week, I conclude Bert’s and my story:
[In case you missed it, you can read part 1 of God Can Save Your Marriage, More Than You Can Imagine here; and part 2 here.]
For the next several weeks, I continued to pray constantly and I kept my Scripture memory cards near so I could meditate on them throughout the day.
God’s presence continued to penetrate my sadness, even at night – especially as I cried alone in our bed. (Bert had moved into the guest bedroom weeks before.) My hope was growing. And thankfully, I also grew in my understanding of my significance in Jesus, rather than in Bert’s opinion of me. That understanding enabled me to resist temptation more often and behave like the wife I prayed to be.
Then one incredible evening, I saw tears in Bert’s eyes. “Sheryl, I never had anyone love me like you do. I never had someone who was willing to stay with me, in spite of my selfish, self-centered behavior.” He reached for my hand and pulled me closer to him. “Will you forgive me?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I covered my mouth with my hands and laughed – and cried! Was this really happening?
Bert stood up, walked to the guest room, and came back with his wedding ring, which he had removed weeks before. He slid it back on his finger and said, “I’ll never take it off again.” More tears filled his eyes. “I’ve been a fool, Sheryl.”
He asked me to forgive him for the years of rejection, and I asked Bert to forgive me for my years of disrespectful behavior. My husband pulled me toward him again, and we held each other for a long, long while. What an incredible turnaround – due to an incredible God!
Now, whether cleaning the kitchen, making sales calls for Wave 94, preparing supper or lying in bed (next to Bert!), I continuously thank God for doing superabundantly more than I ever imagined possible in me, in Bert – in us.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us …” (Ephesians 3:20 ESV).
What about you?
You can use a pseudonym (fake name) when commenting.
- Have you been meditating on Ephesians 3:16-21 with us? Would you like to share how those verses have changed you and/or your circumstances – or at least, your perspective?
- Have you experienced answers to your prayers? We would love to hear about it!
- How can we pray for you?
Thank God! It still brings me chills to remember that horrible time when I thought it was over for you and Bert’s marriage. I truly witnessed God doing a miraculous work. Sometimes it looks like we are losing everything but God is just clearing out the dross and bringing our prayers to fruition. And now you have a wonderful testimony about God answering your prayer.
Indeed! It was a horribly sad time. I will never forget your prayers and support during that time, dear friend. Thank you. I’m glad you got to be part of the miracle God performed.
I didn’t make verse cards to meditate on, but our pastor said a prayer at church last weekend that really touched me. I made a bunch of cards with this prayer on it, put them all around the house, in my purse, taped to my computer, pinned to my bulletin board. I gave my husband a copy, too. Here it is:
Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing dismay you.
All things pass.
God never changes.
Patience attains all that it strives for.
He or she who has God, lacks for nothing.
God alone suffices.
My husband was also very touched by the pastor’s sermon, which was intended for those who were depressed and hurting due to Hurricane Matthew, but had much broader application to anyone who was depressed or hurting. After church that day, my husband said to me that he was going to work on his behavior, because he didn’t want to lose me. I was skeptical, but we have prayed that prayer together in the morning and in the evening (along with our other prayers), and I have prayed it more times than I can count. And things are getting better.
A small part of me is still waiting for an explosion of some sort, but the larger part of me is saying, “Thank you, God. Please be with us, and forgive my lack of faith in You.”
Thank you for your wonderful articles, Sheryl, and for being my friend and for praying for me. It was no coincidence that your articles came when I needed them most. Thank you *HUGS*
Wow! I LOVE your comment on many levels:
1) God’s mighty love for you, your husband
2) God’s timing in your Pastor’s wonderful message
3) Your and your husband’s praying together and working on your marriage
4) God’s timing in allowing Bert’s and my story being shared
5) Your sweet friendship
Don’t give up. Stay in touch. I love you, Phyllis – but nearly as much as God does. And thankfully, not as much as your husband! 😉