Unequally Yoked预览

Look Past the Resistance

Devotional Content:

If your spouse is resisting the Lord, take time to look past their resistance. Is there something from their past that affects the way they look at God? Was there trauma or life experiences that they blame God for? What you see on the outside may be the shell that is protecting deep hurts on the inside.

Tom was six when his mother died. She suffered a long illness, and Tom prayed every night for her to get well. The night before his mom died, Tom was busy playing and fell asleep on the floor without praying. The next morning, he was told by his dad that his mom was gone. Tom never said a word, but inside he blamed her death on himself for not praying that night and on God for being so mean. Tom vowed to never give God another chance.

I met Tom twenty-eight years later as he reluctantly came to counseling. His marriage was falling apart, and his wife asked him to talk with me at least one time. She was a Christian. He never purported to be one, but she married him anyway. She loved him deeply. His hatred for God had become a huge issue in their marriage. Tom repeatedly and adamantly told her that he wanted nothing to do with God. As Tom and I met alone, I asked him why he hated God so much. His eyes filled with tears and he said no one had ever asked him that question before. That really shocked me. For the first time ever, Tom told the story of his mom’s death. The shell began to crack, and over the next few months Tom slowly opened up his life to God.

With Tom, I saw three things in his marriage: First, his wife fervently prayed for him for two years. Second, she was obedient to what the Lord called her to do. Third, the timing was right and a patient God was there as Tom opened his heart. God used this woman who was able to “look past the resistance” to bring this man to Jesus.

Today’s Challenge:

Ask God to help you look past the resistance to the heart of your spouse and to help you see your spouse through His eyes.

Going Deeper:

It is so normal for us to react to the outside and never look at the inside. As you pray, see your spouse as a lost child of God. Know without a doubt that God wants your spouse in His kingdom. Pray for patience and wisdom as you look past the resistance.