Joy In The Storm
Raging Winds
Several of our sweet friends lost everything this past week. Hurricane Laura came with raging winds and rain. They were gone from their home, staying in a safe place away from their home town. There is probably a total loss of their home and possessions. I can’t even imagine the heartbreak and devastation they must be feeling right now. Our thoughts, prayers, and love are with them. Sometimes in your marriage you will face a storm that will take your breath away.
Just Breathe
What happens when you feel your world is turned upside down in the midst of a storm? Just breathe, and know God is right by your side. He is there to comfort, lead, protect, and provide. He will always make a way. Sometimes we take it all on our own shoulders and forget to breathe. Anxiety creeps in and we find ourselves breathless. Look up, pray, cry out, but find the joy God has for you even in those moments.
Perception
Our perception affects a lot when we are focused on the storm. We look to ourselves for answers instead of Jesus. Peter looked at the waves and storm instead of keeping His eyes on Jesus. The Lord wasn’t caught off guard by this storm, and He’s not caught off guard by the trials you are facing. Your marriage can survive or thrive based on your perception. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, so it’s not based upon circumstances. It can change though with your perception.
Joy
Joy is an inner gladness, a rejoicing, it’s a confidence in the goodness of God! No matter what you may be going through, you can have joy! My husband and I have learned to have joy in whatever situation because we trust the Lord. I say learned because it wasn’t easy when you haven’t always walked in it. You bear the fruit of the Spirit, so that means there is some work involved. Watering with the word, good soil, weeding your heart of lies of the enemy, sunshine that encourages you to believe, pruning with fasting and prayer! You can walk in joy, but you have to walk with the Lord daily to do it.
Trust
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart… it’s something you do over and over. You give your heart to God, broken, scared, hopeless, full, anticipating, whatever the state of it. Trust is built in your relationship with God and your spouse. It takes time, energy, work, forgiveness, love, and trust. I have had some people ask us after a hurt, “How can I trust God, or my spouse?” The answer, “You just do it.” It’s not always easy but to rebuild or build trust, you just trust. You give your heart and don’t hold anything back. I’m not talking about being a doormat to someone who is abusive. I’m talking about trusting in spite of the situation at hand, and learning to have joy with it!
Restoration
What happens after a storm? There comes a rebuilding and restoration. Restoration is to put something back to its former state or the original. But in Gods economy He makes it better! He doesn’t just make us the same, He makes us better! It’s a supernatural transaction. Restoration in our lives, homes, marriages, churches, is an amazing process! When you think about how broken we are when that storm hits our lives, we who are married have someone there to bear the load with us. Don’t let the stress and destruction tear you apart, let it make you better!
God’s Ways
God’s ways are not our ways!! His thoughts are higher than ours. We look at loss of our home, job, family, as a negative. But God has a different perspective, He looks at it and says, “I’m closing one door and opening another.” It may just be the devastion you think will break you is the same moment God is about to promote you. Joy in this is knowing He has your best in mind! He is working all things for your good! Who could you minister to in this time, what person is God trying to lead you to? What is God’s plan to bring you to a place of humility, so He can bring you to a place of wholeness? Believe!! Have Joy!! Trust the goodness of God! You can laugh, you can smile, you can and will live through it!! JOY is the key!!!
Scriptures
Monday: Matthew 4:37 says, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” In moments like this we can fear and it can take our breathe away, but our trust is in the Lord.
Tuesday: Psalm 107:29 says, “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” Know He is with you and calms the waves.
Wednesday: Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” Pray daily for the fruit of the Spirit in your marriage, so that you can bear it in tough times.
Thursday: Psalm 16:11 says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” When you seek the Lord and are in His presence there is a joy you can’t understand!
Friday: Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Joy is trusting the Lord in everything!
Saturday: Psalm 51:12 says, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.” When God restores He does it fully that we may have joy!
Sunday: Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” God is so far in front of us, He knows the end from the beginning! Trust him and have joy in the process!!
Contact
Please feel free to contact us at janene@happilyevermarried.org and read and share more blog posts at http://happilyevermarried.org
Thank you for investing in your marriage and you too can have a happily ever married marriage!!