Her Faith Thrives

If you had 5 minutes to talk about how God has worked in your life lately, what would you say? My husband, Tony and I, recently had the chance to answer that very question during the morning Sunday School Hour at our church. It was a sweet time listening to other people share how God had been working in their ministries, marriages, parenting and just life in general. After sharing in that context, I wanted to reflect on what we talked about and share a bit of our story here.

Tony and I have been married for 4 years. We both grew up in Christian homes and had a wealth of wise counsel throughout our dating and engagement. We entered marriage excited but also aware that we would need to fight our sin natures and purposefully choose to love one another daily. 

Marriage is easily the most sanctifying thing we have both walked through, even compared to our current parenting  responsibilities. God has used this beautiful gift to enrich us by walking us through the fire and burning away (not wishing away) the dross. Each trial, both external and internal, has revealed areas we need to cry out to God for help. We walked through job changes, difficulties in pregnancy and birth experiences, a miscarriage, changing theology, the isolation of the pandemic, 2 big moves  and even though our list is very tame compared to some, God used these things and more to expose our hearts. 

There is a beautiful and challenging verse that has been a great source of comfort for me. 

“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”

Psalm 119: 71  (ESV)

One guiding principle that beautifully encapsulates our marriage journey so far is this: it’s through our trials and challenges that we’ve learned to walk  hand in hand with God.  This is part of the reason we believe the church has been so instrumental in shoring up our marriage. Every week we have the chance to sit under the authority of God’s word and respond to the work of the Holy Spirit exposing sin we needed to confess to God and each other. God uses his word through faithful preaching to reveal wrong attitudes, thoughts or actions  and that changes how we relate to each other in the week that follows. Over the last few years God has convicted us of prayerlessness which helped us stop trying to take His place in trying to  change each other. Instead, we strive to  pray and speak truth in love. God gave us delight in learning things about Him together. He showed us what faithful application of His word over the long haul looked like as we watched imperfect but healthy marriages of varying lengths within the church body. 

Many have generously contributed to our lives and our marriage, and we are deeply grateful. Yet, one of the most transformative influences has undoubtedly been listening to weekly sermons preached in our local church(es) over the years. Through  the preaching of His Word,  God has empowered us to respond in ways that have enriched our marriage. We have a long way to go but it is encouraging to see God work to make us more like Him every step of the way.

Our experience reminds us of how God has always worked. He accomplishes His purposes through seemingly inconsequential things. What is preaching compared to counseling, marriage programs or other intensives? And whereas, I will be the first to say that counseling and programs play an important role and have their place, my hope is to show you that God works through the preaching of His word far more than we may realize. 

So, take heart dear friend, stay faithful to gather with the saints. Renew your search for a Bible believing church. Make it a priority again to attend church in person. It matters and God works through it, no matter your season.

How has God worked in your season through His Word?

Leave a comment below so we can encourage and learn from one another!

For Further Encouragement

Were you encouraged by this blog post? I would love to connect with you on our special Her Faith Thrives Newsletter which goes out every other month.  In each newsletter, I share a short reflection about how I’m growing in my faith during this season of life. Plus, I’ll be sending you some fantastic resources to inspire and guide you on your own faith journey. When you subscribe, you will receive my all-time favorite tool for making your Daily Quiet Time truly meaningful. It’s called “From Routine to Reverence: 3 Simple Steps to a Deeper Daily Quiet Time.” I can’t wait to hear how it helps you deepen your time in God’s Word.