Experiencing God

Chapter Twenty-One—Experiencing God as Couples

Question 1. Do you and your spouse take time to regularly talk about God’s activity in your family, church and world? If not, how might you begin to do that?

Okay, my husband and I do talk about what is going on in the family and world. Unfortunately, we do not talk about what god is doing. While my husband states that he believe in God, he is not a person who believes God. Whenever he is faced with a stressful situation, he stresses about it and does not listen to any advice, especially when it comes to prayer.

As Blackaby states, “marriage is God’s joining together of a man and woman to create a union through which he can accomplish His purposes and be glorified” (Blackaby). I really do not know why God led me to marry my husband. In 1993, I married him because I loved him and was in love with him. However, I never gave his belief in God a thought. At that time I was weak in my faith and it was not until a couple years later when I returned to God. If my faith was as strong then as it is now, I may have given a second thought to marrying him. Maybe it was good it turned out that way since I married a wonderful man and have three beautiful children-my two daughters and my step-daughter.

I know my husband and I know how much he can tolerate. While the male in the house should be the spiritual leader, once in a while the female must take the role. As I have been working on the Experiencing God study, I realize that God wants me to take on smaller projects. With my husband, I need to start out slow.

Question 2. What are some things you sense God is doing in your spouse’s life? How might you become involved in that activity?

While my husband may not realize it, God has been very active in my husband’s life. He is the type of person who is willing to help others in need.

He is involved in the American Legion in our area and has been in charge of several committees and has been involved in many leadership roles. Before he took these positions, he was not sure if he was qualified enough to handle the responsibilities. With God working through him, my husband was able to carry out the activities.

My husband was actively involved helping people when our area got hit by a flood in 2011. Whether it was to help people clean up, rebuild or to offer a shoulder to cry on, he was there for them.

I must constantly look to see where God is active in my husband’s life and join him. While my husband is not a praying man, I must pray for him.

Reference:

Bible verses are taken from The Holy Bible. New International Version.

Questions and quotes are taken from Experiencing God Knowing and Doing the Will of God. Henry and Richard Blackaby.