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Post by leanna72 on Jun 5, 2017 13:48:23 GMT -5
Hi there friends. It's been a long time since I've been on here. Thanks Adrienne for your email reach out 💖 Love ya sister.
I keep praying but have been feeling very feeble in my stand. Seems that on the hardest days it is the easiest to write. There has been a lot of fighting between my husband and me. And his mother has been a giant thorn in my side and gum in my hair. He has stopped standing up for me at all. We need prayer and I need guidance. I am to the point where part of me (and that part is growing) that wants to divorce so that i can be done with my in laws. I don't have words for how bad today is.
Still praying for y'all.
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Post by Adrienne on Jun 5, 2017 20:11:26 GMT -5
Hey Leanna!! I'm so glad that you came back to the group to post - this is what we're here for, to pray for one another and lift each other up! <3
I can sympathize with the pressure from in-laws and people outside your marriage. It can really weigh on you! There's a Psalm I found once that spoke to me about this exact type of situation. It's the first half of Psalm 43, verse 1: "Vindicate me, Oh God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people." Our amazing God will defend our marriage and our stand from any naysayers - it's not our job to stick up for ourselves because God has totally got that covered! Just pray to Him about this, and you can be assured that He will hear you. Always! I encourage you to ignore your in-laws' criticisms, tackle their bitterness with your own grace and love, and let God be your knight in shining armor.
Another little passage that spoke to my heart is in Acts 28. Verses 1-6. It talks about how Paul arrived at a wild island, and when he was bitten by a snake, the people there spoke against him, saying that he was probably a murderer and a criminal, and deserved to die (basically, that the snakebite was a sign of his true evil character). Then, when Paul was totally fine and unharmed (by God's grace!), the same people said Paul was a god! The reason this spoke to me is that people are so duplicitous. People of the world, people not in our shoes, they all like to think they know what's best for us, or what the future of our marriage holds. When the enemy attacks our marriage (like the snake that bit/attacked Paul), these people say that we're not "meant to be" or that we're doomed to fail. But the reality is that our God can heal broken marriages beyond any person's ability to understand - beyond any "reasonable" expectations.
Don't let your in-laws' criticisms or doubts (or even your husband's doubts, or your own) get in the way of God's amazing restorative and healing work. When God told him to, Noah built the ark even though it hadn't rained for ages - I don't think it says it anywhere in the Bible specifically, but I imagine all of Noah's neighbors were quite critical about this little construction project! But when God sent the rain, Noah was ready, because he had stayed faithful in prayer and followed God's instructions. So, too, we will be ready for God's works and miracles in our own lives and marriages if we just focus on following Him and fulfilling His will for us.
I urge you to keep praying, sister, and I remind you to keep your eyes firmly fixed on God, not on your husband, or on your in-laws. Our God knows the way through, and He will never ever abandon you. (Just check out Psalm 27:10 for confirmation of this).
I will continue praying for you too, always! And remember we're here for you, Leanna. We love you and we believe in you!
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Post by leanna72 on Jun 7, 2017 11:25:28 GMT -5
Thanks Adrienne! The last few days have been very hard and my in laws and I are not currently on speaking terms after all this fighting but Justin and I have gotten a bit better... He said let me fight this. I've backed down and that is helping, and I think he is appreciating the submission and faith in him to stand up for me. I hope God erases the memory of the trauma that went on...
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Post by Adrienne on Jun 8, 2017 21:43:07 GMT -5
God works in mysterious ways; maybe He is using this as a way to speak to Justin's heart? I am praying for you, sister, for healing, strength, peace, and trust. Remember we are always here standing in prayer with and for you!! Sending hugs across the web to you <3
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Post by Sharon on Jun 22, 2017 18:06:02 GMT -5
Hey Leanna, I completely agree with Adrienne. Standing down and staying out of the fight, basically refusing to fight, will be the best thing for you. I am so glad to hear that Justin is standing for you. I have this issue with my own parents, especially my mom, often. And I really want to love and respect my moms opinion, but God reminds me of that verse that I am paraphrasing. What God has joined let no man separate. And also for this reason a man will leave his mother and father and be joined to his wife and they will become one. It is fine for your in laws to reject you, but then they are rejecting their son also since you are one. And I remind my loving Christian mom of this sometimes when the judgement monster on her starts to gain ground. You can not reject my husband and love me.
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Post by Adrienne on Jun 23, 2017 20:54:44 GMT -5
I love that perspective Sharon. I hadn't ever thought of that verse that way but it makes so much sense.
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