MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS

Luke 8:22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

To my fellow reader and lover of Christ Jesus. For the past six months as I at times roam around in the world of Facebook , my heart as been deeply grieved when I come across those who were married and Christian that I once knew, and now find that those couples are divorced and by their pictures it seems that they have not only divorced their spouse but also their relationship with the Lord. Even outside of Facebook, I have heard of many divorces even within the church. As I once experienced the deep pain of my parent’s divorce, that same feeling gets resurrected when I hear of others who divorced as well, especially claimed Christians who know better! My past experience doesn’t get me break me down in any which way as it use to before I fully yielded to the way of the Lord, but the same painful spirit has influenced me to preach righteousness concerning the family household. Personally, God has brought me from breakdown to experiencing break through concerning this past experience, but in the process there was a breaking in my own life, to forgive, learn, and move on into Christ. I myself am not yet married, but as one who experienced divorced first hand through the lives of others, I felt to just write on this topic.

Storms will come in a marriage for sure, but if journeyed through properly, which is to be in Christ and trust Him to guide through that storm, I tell you…you will make it to the other side!

We all know the story of when Jesus and his disciples entered into the ship and were on their way to a specific destination the Lord ordered to go to. We also know of the storm they came into the midst of. A mighty wind storm.

Luke 8:22-25 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Relationships in general, we will all experience a certain day that a storm would arise. A day that will cause us to be in jeopardy, a day that makes us feel like we are going to loose everything and die. We then find ourselves praying and begging God to just get rid of this storm, but meanwhile God has indeed allowed it. Sometimes we can’t change the storm around us, but by God’s power we can change the storm within us. We can allow God to put within us a right reaction to life’s troubling times. Only He can giver us a peace that passes all understanding! (Philippians 4:7).

Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Notice the Lord told Peter that Satan desires to sift him like wheat. To kill Peter! Satan brings a lot of storms to our lives. He seeks to kill, steal, and destroy! (John 10:10) But notice the Lord didn’t tell Peter, “Oh I just pray the storm never comes”. No! Jesus says, I pray that your FAITH will NOT fail!

Sometimes we come face to face in major stormy situations in life and pray God will just remove it, but perhaps discerningly we realize that God allowed it so our faith may have the opportunity to be built up and strengthened in Christ! Did you not ask God, “Oh Lord give me more faith” or “Oh God I want such faith that I can remove mountains, remove distraction, remove anything that gets in the way from me receiving the inheritance and victory you have for me” ?

Then Jesus says to Peter, “WHEN thou art converted, strengthen your bretheren”. In other words, when you yourself have made it through this trial, when you yourself are converted from trying pressure to peace at full measure, go and save others who may be going through the same thing and their faith is lack. Once you made it through, go and strengthen others with encouragement to make it through as well, by listening to the word of God that says and promises “You will make it to the others side”! Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God! Jesus said, “Let US go to the other side!”

Acts 27:13-15,21-25, 32-36, 40-44 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

We all have a Euroclydon storm in our life that we face in some way or another. But as the shipmen did, when the storm was too violent for them to fight against, the just lifted up their anchor, cut the ropes and rode out the storm. We go through situations that were put before us, trying to change things. Things do indeed need to be change and that’s what the Lord is doing. But sometimes we need to just submit to the storms God allows in our life and trust Him to change us through it, being more sound and stronger in Him! Notice that the angel didn’t tell Paul how to go through the storm, but that he and all the people on the ship will make it to the destination God called Paul to go to!

We will tarry longer in storms when we don’t submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

As it is in the natural marriage the same it is spiritually concerning the marriage of the church and Christ. The church will go through storms for sure, and all kinds, but Jesus said… Let US go to the other side! Jesus wants us to trust in Him, have faith willing to walk out, knowing that the Lord will take care of it and bring us to the place He has initially called us to. Marriage doesn’t need to be on the rocks, but rather needs to be one The Rock!

Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

I encourage us all, to pray for the restoration of marriages, both in the institution of the family and the church! There are times we need to cut our ropes, submit to God, and ride out the storm, for this too shall pass!

I encourage you my fellow reader, if your are going through a storm right now, to trust in Jesus, ask for His guidance, submit to it, DO NOT remove yourself from the foundation of Christ the Rock, and go with Him to the other side! Let Him bring you to deeper levels in Him, from faith to faith from glory to glory.

Remember, God called us out to call us into! As God called Israel out of Egypt, they were first called into a wilderness, before getting to the promise land. But WHEN their eyes were set on the testimony of coming out of bondage and into permanent liberation that awaits before them in the new promised land, praise songs began to conceive while journeying in the wilderness! Let praise come forth out of your mouth, even through the storm! Praise Him in the storm, for in Christ we will make it to the other side!

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

God Bless