Sometimes it does seem like the world is winning, that their way is prospering. It can be frustrating to pray and believe and wait on the Lord only to see that what happens is the exact opposite of what we are seeking. And many times those around us seem to understand more what the world is doing than what we are.
When Michael told me that he was leaving me to marry my best friend, I thought that all our friends would be on my side. Both our family and her family were members of the same church. I thought our pastor would be totally against the divorce and would stand with me for healing. Actually, just the opposite happened.
Our pastor told me it was inevitable that our marriage was over and that Michael was going to remarry. He said there really was nothing I could do about it. The biggest shock for me, though, came when our friends began double dating with Michael and his new love. They were invited to dinner at the homes of mutual friends and they frequently went out with couples we had known for years. Many of them told me that I should just let Michael go and stop trying to ruin his life. In a very short amount of time I began to feel alienated in my own church. It was as if I had become the other woman.
All of those experiences were reality, but were they truth? That is what the Lord began to teach me. Truth is what God says – plain and simple. There is a reason that scripture asks, “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” God says one thing, the world says another. And the world works hard to reinforce what it says and believes. We are constantly surrounded by evidence that seems to prove that the world is right.
Yet God has told us something very different. Where then is the evidence of what He says? Why do we not see it readily all around us and why does it often seem like an uphill battle to experience His truths?
First of all, God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24) Everything that comes from God originates in the spirit realm. God speaks things before we see them in the natural. Jesus, who was the promised redemption of mankind in the Garden of Eden, came to earth in God’s timing – God’s Word became flesh – what God said came into the natural.
Remember Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” When we begin standing in faith we have God’s word but as yet it is not seen with our natural eyes. Standing in faith means believing before we see it. “… while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
All of this sounds great in sermons, but it is a bit harder when we are walking it out. It is much easier to see earthly things. They are all around us but they are temporary. What really matters and what really will stand permanently is what is not seen.
How well this was illustrated to me when I was standing. The seemingly permanent situation with my husband and his girlfriend eventually passed away and he went on to other women. While that was not very consoling to me, it did illustrate that if we focus on what our natural eyes can see, we will never have a stable place to stand permanently. What God had told me stood and eventually came to pass. What the world told me just passed away.
That is why if you are focusing on what your spouse is doing or saying or what the circumstances around you seem to be dictating, you will always be in turmoil. They are all only temporary and will change frequently. It’s like building your life on shifting sand.
When you begin to focus on what God says, though, you will find greater peace and stability in your life. You may not yet see with your natural eyes what He has said, but you will know that what He says is true and you can trust Him to bring it to pass in His timing.
Remember that the twelve spies all saw the very same things. Ten believed the circumstances and two believed God. Until the day we leave this earth, we will constantly be faced with the same choice. And remember, even the two who believed God still had to obey Him and fight to take the Promised Land. Faith in God gives us the vision and the strength to overcome what we face in the natural.
Even though our pastor and all our friends treated me like the other woman, God recognized me as my husband’s wife. When my husband’s lover flaunted her relationship with my husband openly in our small town, God assured me that I was still the wife of his youth. The two of us were still one, no matter what others thought or said. That gave me standing to pray for my husband as no one else on earth could. So while others believed I was no longer relevant in my husband’s life, I believed God who had made us one. God’s eternal word stood and the world’s temporary words eventually passed away.
Be encouraged today! As you stand, God is at work. His spoken word is going forth, transforming and renewing. Don’t let the temporary that you can see bring fear to your heart. Stand instead firm on what you can’t see. It is eternal and true. Love, Marilyn
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful…” Hebrews 12:28
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:3
Thank you so much for this inspired message from our Lord. My son is enduring the breakup of his marriage. It is hard for all of us. Thanks for the reminder that God is greater than our trials and is working FOR us in the unseen world of the eternal. The encouragement is for me too. Thanks again.
another question? Good circumstances can be just as bad as negative circumstances. It that right? because if we focus on the good circumstances we can easily get discouraged when something negative happens.
thank you
how do you let go without letting go?
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. On January 3, 2005 I had final divorce papers in my hand and told the Lord I could never open this envelope and read the words that some earthly judge has dissolved my marriage after 24 years, I was in such pain. I asked the Lord if He could please, please give me a word somehow, that He would bring my husband back. I then began to flip through the TV channels and stopped for a brief moment on a man praying and I could hardly believe what this man was saying. He said, I quote “There is a marriage that has been broken after 24 years and God said that He is going to restore it.” I could not believe what I was hearing. The Lord was so kind to give such a special word just for me. This has kept me going for the last four years. The circumstances look horrible and I have no contact with my husband but because the Lord has given me such a strong word that He is going to restore my marriage, I hold on. The world says it’s impossible, but God told me He is going to do it. Thank you for your December 16, 2008 message. TRUTH IS WHAT GOD SAYS–PLAIN AND SIMPLE!
Thank you for your message dec 16, its been a yr since my husband told me it hasnt “worked out” ,he doesnt want to “try”. hes had 2 OW I think only as far as flirting so far. hes still living with me and our children but sleep separately and he wont do counseling. I thank God for showing me to your website through a book- saved marriages, I read. especially at Christmas- the 2nd one weve gone through in this horrible manner- Today is christmas and I will focus on our Lord Jesus’s birth and not my sadness or fear.
thank you for your ministry.
I am in the process of fighting for my marriage and family. Two months ago I totally believed that my marriage was over. We filled for legal separation , I fell in love with someone else at my church and was totally sure that that was God’s will.The domestic abuse I went through for 10 years was the excuse to give up my marriage . I decided to spend time with my parents to calm down and get more strenght for this new season in my live- being a single mom, I was freaking out and asking God for His will not mine-.god showed me in Deuteronomy about the blessings I would get if I was obedient to His word and the curses if I was desobedient. It convicted me that divorce was a sin and that I would be and a lot of courses and I was responsable for teaching my daughters a false teaching- that divorcing was ok in my circunstance.
A pastor in Brazil told me about your ministry MMIBrasil ,I read your testimony online and the Holy Spirit convicted me about my sins and melted my heart. I repented and sent an email to my husband and told him that I was getting ready to fight for our marriage.
I walked by faith and I am so glad that somebody else went through similar situation , I didn’t feel alone and it gave me strenght to fight , and hope to walk by faith everyday.
It’s been only 2 months and The Lord gives us miracles everyday. I need you to pray for me. I hope I can attend to one of your conferences one day.
I thank God for you lives and your ministry all the time. I am sorry you went through so much but at least your testimony helps us so much!
Thank you , thank you, thank you
I love you in Christ and I am so glad we are going to spend eternity together!
did Micheal ever say he just didn’t feel loved by you? how did you react to that when you showed him unconditional love? Very little has ever been said about your children. did you have to face the circumstances of your children being around the other woman?
When do you think you may post your next blog?
Hi Mrs. Phillips,
I want to thank you so much for your guidance. I have left a couple of blog comments that usually was just addressing how to handle certain circumstances. I know the answer to my questions are to pray.
My question to you is how does a person get closer to the Lord.
I know some answers would be to be open and honest with him, just like any friend here. would you also use scriptures with your family’s names? I just cant get it right as far as reading the bible? Do you find a chapter and just start reading from there asking the Lord to show you his word everytime? I just don’t feel I’m doing enough. I know God had instructed me to stand in the gap, but I just don’t feel I’m doing a good job. I ask for forgiveness on a daily basis (esp to keep my mouth shut!), thank God for differnt things daily, give foregiveness to my husband and his other daily and ask for husband’s salvation through God’s will. Do you have nay suggestions on how to always look towards the Lord and not the left, nor right? Thank you!!!!