God Wants To Give Us So Much More Than A “Quick Fix”
The following is an excerpt from Judy Rousseau’s email message today, in which she included this message from Tom, who kindly gave me permission to share it with our visitors as well. It’s something he posted on another marriage restoration website, and it’s definitely something we can all benefit from the wisdom of, because totally surrendering and trusting God is not just the ONLY thing we can do…it’s the BEST thing we can do! Here’s Tom’s message:
“Hi All,
My own marriage is facing divorce, so I am not trying to make myself out to be an expert. I’ve been fasting and praying for nearly 5 months for a breakthrough, for the miracle of restoration back to what God intended marriage to be. I participate at this website and a few others, both asking for prayer and of course praying for others and their needs. One thing I see common to most of them is that we are looking for a quick
fix from God. I know I was, especially the first few weeks.
Through reading His Word, praying, reading other books and the wise counsel of many from these sites as well as true Christian friends I’ve learned one thing. Our God is a God of miracles, but in His Timing, not ours. What does that mean? You have to persevere in prayer. The battle is His, absolutely, but He wants more from us than an emergency prayer of help. He wants us completely and wants our own personal walk with Him restored. I feel my time in the wilderness, like many of the people who post here, is a “gift” from God. One that causes pain, but is for my good and I pray for the good of my wife and all others involved. I keep a list of marriages in trouble who’s names I get from sites like this one. The problem is, many of the people posting the prayer requests never return. And I for one wonder if it is because their prayers were answered or was their turning to God a one shot attempt at reconciliation, financial needs met, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I’m praying for you either way. But if you are serious about obtaining God’s help one prayer may be all it takes for Him to complete the miracle. In fact He could do it without that prayer. In Him nothing is impossible. But He wants and deserves more.
He wants our obedience, worship and many other things, but most of all He wants our love. He’s already shown His perfect love for us. And His Promises are perfect, but if you really seek Him you’ll see there are conditions to His answering. One is demonstrating faith that He can do it. Another is persisting in your requests, not giving up even when your “worldly” wisdom says you should. A miracle, which is what most of
us are praying for, is exactly that, miraculous. Something we don’t deserve, a gift from a loving Father. Pray His Word to Him, keep asking, but make sure you are asking is within His Will. Marriage restoration is, winning the lottery isn’t. He has promised us to meet our needs, so praying for a specific deliverance from a financial problem certainly is in His Will. I’m still a relative babe in the Word so I am also asking for what we all need, His Wisdom to discern His Will, revelation of it for my life and marriage, etc.
I could go on, but I’m afraid I’m sounding critical as it is and that’s the last thing I want to pass on. What I’m saying is, in our brokenness He finds us and heals us. Only through Him is that possible. It’s not always easy, He never said it would be. But I believe it will be worth it and every day He tells me it will. I’ve “heard” His voice enough to recognize it in my heart when I’m deep in prayer. And He’s answered specific questions through emails who’s subjects in the morning address a question I prayed about in no uncertain terms the night before. He speaks to us in ways we will understand. And it truly is that quiet, still voice that you hear and feel peace from. But as I have found, you have to listen in order to hear.
Beyond prayer I can do nothing to save my marriage. But I am thankful for it because that is the only hope anyway. I can’t and don’t offer advice on marriage or finances, I’m completely unqualified. I’m even more unqualified to give any kind of spiritual advice beyond relating my own experiences. But if you are having problems and really want the Lord in your life so you have a rock to turn to I am happy to provide you with the places that have helped me in my relationship with Him and have provided so much for me. It’s up to you after that, but like this website, there are a lot of wonderful resources out there where you can really be led to Him if you’re willing to go and give you the encouragement you’re seeking regardless of the mountain you’re facing. Until my wife and I separated I would not have believed it myself. I thought I could handle anything on my own. Now I know, and I’m thankful for the fact, that I can handle nothing without Him.
He once clearly spoke to me while I was fasting and praying. I was done praying or thinking for the day and was reaching for the light switch to go to sleep. I wasn’t thinking about anything except getting up for work on time the next day. I had been praying a lot in His Word for my marriage to be restored and felt much better than I had when I’d started. But as I reached for that switch I heard Him in my heart,
unmistakably Him, and all He said was “Trust Me”. We both knew what He meant. And that’s all I’m really trying to say to anyone else facing their own mountain of circumstances, Trust HIM!
Tom”
Judy’s reply: “Thank you, Tom, I pray that the Lord will use your letter to deeply minister His heart and desire for relationship to those who will read it. I pray that they will not give God a deadline in which to work but rather give their lives completely to Him. (Tom, you’ve got such a gift for writing. May the Lord continue to give you opportunity to use it. To God be the glory!)”