There are moments when God shines a spotlight to focus our attention on something and bring it into the light.
Today has been a hard day. During a very stressful time at work last month, I made a big mistake. Today, with no warning, I was let go. I was completely unprepared. I now face a job search, yet I am no longer sure what I want to do when I grow up.
Yet I see the blessings that people are in my life. A friend who lost her job a few months ago took me out for coffee. My kids all gave me caring hugs when I got home. After posting a prayer request online, I got lovely messages of encouragement and support from other Christians.
As wonderful as these blessings were, even better was that God allowed me to see what my marriage is now.
My husband let me interrupt him at work to talk with him on the phone. When he walked in the door at the end of the day, he reached out as I collapsed in his arms in tears. He held me up, his strong arms wrapped around me while he gently kissed my hair.
This is what husbands are for, I thought, to hold us up when we can’t stand on our own and to kiss our hair when we cry.
I thought of where our marriage was a few years ago. I had so many walls up between my husband and me, and I would have worked hard to pretend I was less upset than I really was. He would have told me how to begin a job search. I would have told him to stop trying to fix everything for me. He would have said it will be okay, and I would have itemized all the reasons he was wrong. His responses would have added to the burdens I carried and they would have left him feeling unneeded and helpless.
Now, the walls down, I let him see my raw self. He said nothing other than to tell me to take a few days to feel how I needed to feel. He told me it will be okay. I don’t know how, but now that the walls are down, I am able to believe the husband God has given me. Instead of having an additional burden, my burden is now shared. And my husband knows how much I truly need him.
If you have walls up between you and your husband, what would happen in the face of an unexpected challenge in your life? Would you be able to rely on your husband and let him hold you up, or would it just be another wedge between the two of you?
You never know what is around the bend on the path in front of you. Is your marriage prepared? If the spotlight were aimed at your marriage, what would you see illuminated?
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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I’m so sorry to read your news. Thank God for the mended relationship which is now holding you up,
Amen!
I’m so impressed with how you can write so beautifully in the midst of a stressful situation. Be blessed friend and thanks for sharing yourself with us.
Thank you, although I would prefer I had something less stressful to share with y’all right now.
That’s what husbands are for….I LOVE that!!!!!
I am wondering what fantastic adventure God has planned for you now that you are available to fully commit to it. This will be an exciting time as you are further led in His direction. Keep us posted on the blessings awaiting you as you become aware of them. Your prayer for now: “By His design and in His time.” Amen. Keep the patience and knee pads handy. I look forward to seeing His glory manifested in you. This is going to be another great witness building upon the witness of this blog. Go for it, girl.
Thank you. I’m trying to look at this as an opportunity, but then finances and health insurance obscure my vision. I will be definitely be going through some knee pads.
Know you’re not alone when you strap on those knee pads. You have this community of believers praying alongside, so scoot over and make room..
“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).
“Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14–15)
These situations really do require faith. I myself have spent the last year in danger of being let go from my job for any violation of company policy, including being even a couple minutes late.When I first received the warning, I was reminded of Jesus words when He was arrested, “You would have no power over me unless it were given yo By my Father.”Keeping this in mind has been, that God directs our steps in life has been a comfort to me, as my job provides our insurance as well.I will pray for you and our husband as you go through these things that you find peace in knowing that God is in control., and He loves you.
Prayers for you Chris. Glad that BG was there for you.
I had an unexpected job termination 2 years ago and the first thing I received when I got home was a verbal kick in the seat of the pants from my wife. While I may have need the kick, a hug first would have softened the blow.
Ouch. My husband went through several job losses over a period of a few years, and even in our difficult years, I did try to hug rather than kick. I’m glad my husband was there for me yesterday.
What tough news. Best wishes with the job search! I do think one of the best aspects of marriage is that comfort and support our spouse can give when things take a downturn.
This will challenge me to rely on my husband in a way I haven’t done in the past. I’m so glad I’m at a point where I can do this. Thanks for the good wishes. I need those and prayers galore over the coming days and weeks.