Dear Brides,
There is a stage in our Restoration Journey where we experience A LOT of hurt, pain and bitterness.
Let me start off by saying that by being a Marriage Minister most of what I do is to encourage and support women that my Husband brings into my life. I completely understand those hurts... And a lot of the time I need to go back and tap into that part of my Restoration Journey to remember how I felt...
I went through various stages... it started with the disbelief... then the anger... then the hopelessness... then the bitterness... then the unforgiveness...
I remember bitterness was one of the biggest feelings that I felt, I was very bitter. I knew that I needed to forgive but it was a fight in my flesh and my spirit. It was definitely a battle in my mind... Knowing what God's word says that I needed to do... And what I was feeling emotionally and that was definitely not good... God's word said that I needed to forgive but I felt SO WRONGED!
Then when I started reading the RYM book "How God Can and Will Restore Your Marriage" I needed to look at my part in the reason why my marriage fell apart. I need to go through the refining process. The chapter "Potter and the Clay" spoke so deeply to my spirit because I KNEW that I was being put through the refining process...
Ladies don't shy away, don't get scared... It is not a bad place to be... Allow yourself to be broken.. Because through that brokenness comes healing...
Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
Back in the beginning when I first started my journey before I knew anything about what I was to come to learn in Gods word concerning my marriage struggles I would go sit in the back in the corner somewhere before work of a KFC, it was the only place open early in the morning. I would sit with a coffee and my bible and open to Psalms and the Psalm about the pit and the miry clay spoke so much to my heart because it was how I felt...
But He set my feet upon the rock, that gave me so much hope!! It took time but He sure did!!
Later I was to come to learn that forgiveness would play a big part in the healing process!! I meditated on many scriptures regarding forgiveness. I will share some of them with you.
This morning I was speaking to another bride who is still in a difficult place in her RJ which has made me go back to tap into what I felt... This is what prompted me to write this...
The praise is that HE is not a respecter of persons. His word does not return void but accomplishes it's purposes in our lives \o/ His word brings life! He is not a man that He should lie nor a son of man that He should lie. We can trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our understanding and as we acknowledge Him He will make our paths straight! Amen?
I always said that my marriage struggles and going through a separation and a divorce was the best thing that happened to me because it allowed me to have a closer relationship with the Lord \o/ There's a scripture that speaks about... it was good for me to be afflicted...
Psalm 119:71 NIV
It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
Psalm 119:71-72 Living Bible
The punishment you gave me was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws. They are more valuable to me than millions in silver and gold!