By the time we met Jake and Samantha, they had already decided to divorce.
“We’re only here because we promised our families that we’d try one last time,” Sami explained, “But we’ve already spoken to the lawyers. This is a dead-end marriage.”
I listened quietly, praying as Samantha spoke. I could almost feel my wife praying beside me. In ministry and as Standing Stone shepherds, we’ve walked alongside a lot of couples, some healthy, some hurting. This situation looked pretty hopeless. But God doesn’t do hopeless.
Lord, I prayed silently, please help. I can’t save their marriage. Please do what only You can do.
We mostly listened to Jake and Samatha that day. Every now and then, we’d ask a question or reflect on something one of them said. It didn’t feel like a particularly profound time, and I felt discouraged as I watched them leave. My wife and I promised that we would pray for them, and we did, but–if I’m being completely honest–I didn’t expect to hear from Jake and Sami again.
When Jake reached out to get another meeting on the calendar, I prayed, “Thank You, Father. Please forgive me for not trusting You more. Thank you that there are no dead ends with you.” I called my wife to let her know, and we redoubled our prayers.
One meeting with Jake and Sami turned into several meetings that stretched into months of meetings. My wife and I watched as they slowly reconnected. The first time we met this couple, they sat on opposite ends of the room. By the end of the eighth month, they were holding hands on the couch.
Over many months, Jake and Sami worked through years of disconnect and hurt. Ministry can do that to couples. When you’re busy doing church work, it’s all too easy to let your marriage suffer. Gratefully, God’s work is much bigger and deeper than we perceive. As Standing Stone shepherds, we get to be part of His plan to restore marriages like Jake and Sami’s. I love serving our no-dead-ends God!
Weekly Encouragement
When Jesus opened God’s Word in the synagogue at Nazareth, he read these words from the book of Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…
God binds up the brokenhearted. He sets captives free. There is no darkness too dark for Him. This is Good News indeed: Our God saves! Our God redeems! He will never stop working to restore all things to Himself. Hallelujah!!!
The rest of Isaiah 61 further describes God’s rescue mission. He promises to
comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
(in bold, Isaiah 61:1-4)
As Standing Stone shepherds, we get to see God rebuilding ruined lives and restoring places long devastated. We even get to participate. It’s an honor to work with couples and individuals God is restoring to Himself. Please pray for us as we serve the God who binds up broken hearts. And, if the Lord has given you resources enough to share, please consider helping us guide more ministry leaders into healthy ministry.
