Tom and I got in a humongous fight: Ten years had passed since we had a fight like this one...well, maybe only three. You may unfortunately, know the kind. We yelled at each other things that we never should have thought, much less said: ugly, hateful words. Most of the kids were in the house, one standing right next to us. All of them crying, Esther asking, “Are you going to get a divorce?” Another thinking it was her fault. Yet another asking, “Why did you say that?” It took several hours and some space but by the time we went to sleep, we were talking to each other and praying to our Father in repentance and with HOPE in our hearts that we were sure that He would find a way to work good out of the situation.
Why do I share this with you? Because I am not perfect. We are not perfect, and I suspect you are not either. Yet, we do have choices that we must make if we are going to follow Christ faithfully, whole-heartedly and with complete surrender. The Word of God is our guidebook, road map, and instruction guide on how to live.
How did Tom and I get to the place where we could forgive one another, talk and then allow the Holy Spirit to get glory out of our sinful fight?
1. As soon as the Holy Spirit prompted one of us to stop responding, we obeyed. We stopped throwing fuel on the fire.
2. We know that we are in a covenant relationship and that we have to apply The Word of God to this fight. I told the kids that truth. We voiced our commitment even when we were still mad and not yet repentant.
3. We both went and talked to the Lord, asking Him to show us our own sin.
4. I called a friend- an accountability partner previously established - who does not let me off the hook - but instead points me back to the Biblical response. I confessed my part of the fight. I did not harbor on Tom’s issues but rather my own.
5. Tom and I tried to talk again to resolve the issue but we both still insisted on our own viewpoint. This time though, we asked questions and stated our thoughts more calmly.
6. Still not agreement, we laid down to go to sleep. Tom prayed aloud over the situation. We slept with his hand on my back and mine on his shoulder: a sure connection that it would be ok.
7. When we woke, we talked. We prayed. We repented. We did not continue to insist on our own way. We forgave.
How many times have you failed to do something God was asking of you to do because of fear? Fear that people would not accept you, fear that you might fail, fear of discovering a past sin, or fear that a daily need for grace, mercy and forgiveness in your life disqualifies you from following God, or being used by Him?
HOPE Romans 8:24-26 “… Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he has seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise, the Spirit helps us with our weakness….”
You and I have A HOPE that is sure. We have A HOPE that is TRUE. His name is JESUS. He came as a baby. He died a repulsive terrible death. He rose from the grave victoriously so that we can HOPE that we will one day put off all of our sinful nature, all of our hurt and our shame, all of our fear. Until that day, I will hope, in faith, that His grace is sufficient for me; that His strength is made perfect in my weakness: that when I do sin, He will give me the grace I need to humble myself, pray, repent, ask for forgiveness, encourage others to hold me accountable in love and then continue to FOLLOW HIM.
Will you join me? Will you ask the Father to show you were you miss the mark of holiness in your life? Will you repent and ask God and others to forgive you? Will you let someone who loves Jesus speak truth tenderly into your life? Will you surrender all to Jesus? He is calling to you: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and A HOPE. Then you will call upon me and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 11-13.
