Will You Wait On The Lord?
In the end, the passing of time may be Satan’s most powerful and effective tool in the battle to destroy our marriages and families, because that’s the reason most people standing for marriage restoration give up and “move on” with their lives. How terribly sad that is. And I wonder how many times people give up just before the restoration of their marriage was about to be manifested. I can’t help thinking of [ The Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25:1-13, and most especially the last verse, which says “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. If we stop expecting and watching for the return of our bridegrooms, then we can’t blame God if our marriages aren’t restored, because we’re the ones who ignore His word and think we can determine the time or hour, deciding that it’s been long enough, despite God’s word telling us repeatedly that we’re NOT going to know when (or how). This parable is probably one of the best explanations of why some marriages are restored and others are not, so we need to find out what it takes to be prepared; to have enough oil to light our lamps and show the way, leading us through to our wedding banquet!
Since the Lord specifically used oil in this parable, it’s important to understand what it was and what it was used for, and how to apply it as we stand for the restoration of our marriages. Obviously, in this case, the oil was needed to light their lamps and provide the light needed to show them the way as they went out to meet the bridegroom. But only half of them had enough oil to light their way when the bridegroom FINALLY showed up, and they were the only ones who made it into the wedding banquet before the doors were closed. So the following verses help us understand the application of needing the light to show us the way and how important it is to us as we wait for our marriages to be restored:
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:130
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
2 Peter 1:19
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Proverbs 4:18
the path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Nehemiah 9:12
By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.
Undoubtedly, the applicable meaning of this parable to us as we stand for the restoration of our marriages is that the ONLY way to make it through this time of waiting with enough oil to light our way on the path the Lord has already made for the return of our bridegrooms, is through the light and power of His word and the power of the Holy Spirit. So the ones that make it into the wedding banquet are those who do the work required to be filled with the word of God and to walk in the light and power of His spirit, which doesn’t happen without getting serious about studying and understanding the Bible. Otherwise we’re like the people mentioned in Job 24:13, which says “There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths. And, even worse, we run the risk of being like those described in Isaiah 8:20-21, which says To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. So when we’re deciding whether or not we’re going to wait on the Lord or give up, that’s the end we need to consider. Or we can be obedient and faithful, trusting and obeying God, and allowing HIS light to guide us and to shine IN us, in which case we will glorify our Lord and Savior as we see in Matthew 5:16, which says In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Our Lord and Savior IS more than able to meet our needs, and we must continue to look to Him for our salvation and deliverance, and for the restoration of our marriages. So it’s my sincerest hope that something written here today WILL encourage anyone who is discouraged and ready to give up. If nothing else encourages you, perhaps it means a lot just to know that the Lord is bringing your concern and discouragement to the minds and hearts of others to write and share encouraging words for you. And if He will do that, surely it’s not so difficult to keep in mind all of the awesome ways He works on our behalf. He loves us and He wants nothing but good for us, BUT He does want us to rely on Him, and Him ALONE!
Lord, I just ask you in the name of Jesus, to encourage your children today. For those who are in despair, Lord, please have mercy on them, and in your infinite faithfulness and grace, please bring a word or sign of encouragement to them today. We thank You for your love and the comfort we have just to know that You love us so much. Forgive us for our doubt and discouragement, Lord, and increase our faith and confidence in You. Give us a hunger for your word, Lord, and a yearning for a closer walk with You. We do love You, Lord, and we are thankful for your many blessings. We thank You that as our creator, You understand our pain and distress, and our weaknesses, so we ask you to return and renew the strength and joy of our salvation. Fill us up to overflowing with the power, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord, and we give You ALL honor, praise and glory! Amen.