When GOD’S Time Reaches Fulfillment!
The past week has truly been one of the most exciting and amazing since FAMM was first established, and we can see that even more is coming in the very near future! So it is my deepest heart’s desire that the powerful testimonies we’ve been blessed to witness will affirm and indelibly imprint the absolute truth of Ephesians 1:4-12 in the heart of every man and woman standing for marriage restoration, because it says:
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
So when God promises that He will cause ALL THINGS to work together for GOOD when we love Him and are called according to HIS purpose, as He does in Romans 8:28, He obviously means according to HIS GOOD plan and purpose (as confirmed in Jeremiah 29:11), which He PREDESTINED to happen when the times will have reached their fulfillment and EXACTLY as necessary to perfect and accomplish God’s predetermined plan and that NOTHING can thwart God’s plan or succeed against Him (Job42:2 and Proverbs 21:30). When we truly get that, we will no longer suffer the stress and anxiety many men and women standing for marriage restoration often struggle with on a daily basis, because John 8:31-32 assures us that To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” And in Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus promises “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” So by sharing the following testimony, I hope and pray that everyone standing for marriage restoration will realize that instead of the passage of time being our enemy, it is actually required to perfect God’s promise and plan in our lives for the full and complete restoration of our marriages and families!
In early April of 2006, a young lady became one of the first FAM Fellowship members. Her husband of two and a half years had left her three weeks earlier and she had since been saved. She would be the first to tell you that she in no way conducted herself as a wife should according to what the Bible teaches. Everything was pretty much her way or no way and her husband’s wishes or needs weren’t even a small part of the equation for her, and she knew nothing about respect and honor, much less submission when it came to her role as a wife. But God really did a great work in her heart and life. However, she fell back into some of her former habits and patterns from time to time; particularly when she became too focused on time and when God would restore her marriage, which almost always resulted in a huge fight with her husband. Unfortunately, during one such time, she let her pride get the best of her and decided to make her husband jealous, with disastrous results. She shared her testimony from that time with the hope that others could learn from her mistakes. Her husband ultimately turned to a lifestyle of drinking, partying and numerous adulterous relationships, and they ended up divorcing on amicable terms a year ago.
L decided to “move on” with her life and put her husband and her marriage behind her; going through one very short term relationship after another. But no matter who she dated, nothing ever “clicked.” And meanwhile, her husband was going through several relationships as well, but they kept their communications with each other civil. L was determined to put everything behind her and decided to sell her wedding rings on eBay, which she had someone help her do. But she never had an acceptable offer and finally decided to sell the rings to someone she knew. But it took more than a month to get the rings back in her possession and then when she did and the perspective buyer came to buy the rings, they couldn’t agree on payment terms. That was two weeks ago, and as stated in the email message below, which I received from L a few days ago, her husband called the next day…after not hearing from him for months!
“Hi Linda,
First and foremost I pray that you are doing well and that your life is full of God’s love and blessings.
Secondly, I wanted to write and give you some news. Last Sunday, after months of not hearing from (name omitted), he called me out of the blue and said that he was wondering what I was up too. He asked me if we could go out and have some coffee and we ended up having dinner last Wednesday. He apologized, but I did not let him finish what he wanted to say. He has been text messaging me like crazy, and at first, I did not reply. But I eventually gave in and started replying to his texts.
We met up for dinner last night, at his request, and he basically told me that he missed me and regrets not giving us a second chance. He said he wants to see me on a regular basis and try to work things out. I told him that I had to think about it. But between you and me, I will be seeing him more often.
Linda, it’s weird; I had been praying for this for so long, and it has been a year since I totally just put him and our marriage behind me. But now I don’t know what I’m feeling. I thought when this happened, people felt butterflies and jumped up and down with joy, but I don’t feel that. I will let God lead us in the right direction. All I can say is that I don’t hold anything against him and I finally get to see the man that I had fallen in love with; but a lot more mature.
I wanted to share this with you, and I ask that you keep us in your prayers, so that God’s will, will be done.
Love,
L”
Since L had told me that she was no longer standing for her marriage, I didn’t bother sending her a membership renewal notice this year and even though I thought of her often, I hadn’t heard from her since the beginning of the year. So I was overjoyed when I received her news and couldn’t wait to talk to her. As we talked, we both were just totally amazed to see all that God had done in her life and in her husband’s life over the past year, and even more so in the past month, to bring them both to where they are today. And NOW it’s easy to see that they weren’t really ready for restoration and WHY God delayed in answering her prayers. The Lord used that time to resolve outstanding issues in both of their lives and now they can have the marriage and future He always had planned for them, and it really will be much more than they ever could have asked or imagined. They have a wedding anniversary coming up next month, and I really hope they will choose that day to renew their wedding vows! So please keep them in your prayers and know that GOD ALWAYS HAS GOOD REASONS FOR DELAY, AND OUR PRAYERS NEVER GO UNANSWERED! And be blessed and encouraged to know that restoration will come at just the right moment…when God’s time reaches fulfillment!!!
Dear Lord, thank You so much for Your unfailing faithfulness to defend and uphold Your Holy covenant of marriage and Your Word! Thank You for the awesome work of restoration You are doing in this couple’s lives and marriage! Lord, it was always L’s greatest desire to begin her family with her beloved husband, and I thank You now for granting that desire of her heart! Thank You for blessing them with the wonder, joy and fulfillment You always intended their marriage to be. Teach them to love, admire, honor and respect each other as Your Word instructs, and may they always keep You at the center of their lives and marriage. We thank You for tearing down any and all obstacles to the full and complete restoration of this marriage, which we know You will continue to do. And we thank You that everything the devil meant for evil, You ALWAYS meant for good! So guide and direct them now, Lord, as they make their way back to each other and to the walk and relationship You want each of them to have with You. Bless them with the glorious riches of heaven, Lord, and be Thou glorified in their lives and marriage from this day forward! We ask all of this in the most wonderful and awesome name and authority of Jesus Christ! Amen!