My husband, Andy, recently shared his battle with you on lustful things. Being the wife of someone who struggles with such things is not easy. There were times that I would would say to myself, “am I not pretty enough?” or “if only I wasn’t so heavy, he wouldn’t need to turn to these things”.
Im proud to say that God pulled Andy from the darkness and he was able to overcome this addiction. I have seen God take a man and turn him into a MAN. I’ve seen a man fall so deeply in love with his wife and grow closer to God and become that spiritual leader in his home.
Nonetheless, even though God was doing these great things in our lives I was allowing myself to get down. Really down.
It doesn’t take long thinking like this before you find yourself in a pit of despair.
I was allowing the negative self talk make me feel like a failure. Not that things were getting worse for Andy or I. It was that for so long I was trying to be Jesus and handle things that belonged to him. After coming to this realization and truly allowing him to have control was I able to get out of the depression I was in.
It’s easy to dwell on the things that you are going through and act as if everything in this universe revolves around yourself and lose sight of the larger picture.
But, God knows what he is doing. No matter how big we think our problems are or what we are going through, He’s got them. He knows our present, past, and future.
The bible says, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG)
When I had bad days this is the verse that I clung to.
If Andy and I would not have gone through the things we’ve gone through I don’t believe we would be where we are today. We had to go through these things to make us stronger and to teach us to have Faith.
I’m so thankful for Grace Hills Church. It was being around other believers and in close fellowship it became eye opening to Andy and I that we needed other believers and we can’t just do Church by ourselves.
Small groups helped Andy and I to realize that the things we were going through (anxiety, stress, financial, marriage issues, etc.) that others go through these same things. Just knowing sometimes that you’re not alone is a huge encouragement in getting through something. I know you are never alone and that Christ is always there with you. But having other believers that are with you to love and encourage you even when you are at your lowest is huge.
I know that the road ahead will not be easy. I know that the enemy is always watching and waiting to see where he can try and destroy me. I have hope in knowing the battle is already won and that He will always be there to carry me through.
What’s YOUR Story?
Have a story to share of how you came to faith in Jesus, overcame a hurt, experienced growth, etc.?