Our humanity drives us to retain control of our life and to live as we choose, rather than to live in submission to anyone else. We often feel the need to manage our own life, as well as the life of all those who have influence over our existence in any way. We do not want anyone to disturb the orderly peace we create in our sphere of reality. If anyone tries to disrupt our tranquility, we fight them with our whole being.
In true reality, we can never attain any amount of true peace through our own vigilance over the order of our life. Our only victory is in submission to God. He teaches us to respond in kindness to those who attempt to abuse us, because we rest in the fact that God will use all our trials for His glory.
When the situation is impossible to bear, we can remove our self from an unsafe or unsavory situation. There, we wait on God to work out everything for our benefit (Romans 8:28). People always treat us in the way that we tolerate, and no amount of complaining or begging will change that. We must submit our circumstances to God, and then follow His Spirit’s leading in each situation.
There is little reason to divorce another person, even for sexual infidelity. God allows divorce in this case because of uncleanness; but if possible, we simply move into the spare bedroom and build our own life as we trust God with the devastation we feel. In order to have some space and protection from an abusive situation, we can open our own bank account and move into our own safe place as we wait on the Lord.
However, God desires reconciliation in every case, where both parties submit to one another and do His will together. However, if one person does not want to reconcile, God will always protect His Saints in their darkest hour. God’s Spirit will help us to move on with our life or our mate will realize the blessing they had with us in their life and desire to reconcile. Either way, God has His plans for our life.
God will influence the offender’s decisions, but He will never force His will on them. He has unconditional patience, giving the hardened person plenty of time to repent and to reconcile. Even Believers, who are imprisoned for their faith and unable to escape, find that He sustains them from the inside out. He gives us His supernatural comfort and joy in our bleakest hour, which surpasses all of life's horrifying circumstances that we are forced to experience (Philippians 4:6-8).
Prayer:
Father God, teach us to submit to You rather than to attempt to control our own life. Help us to bear the disturbing circumstances we encounter in this life and to be a witness for You through it all. If we walk by Your Spirit on the narrow road to Heaven, we find fullness of joy and complete peace regardless of our circumstances. You have only the best plans for our life, and You give us Your wisdom and strength in every trial we encounter.
Through Christ in us, help us to influence this generation, which is walking on a wide road that leads to destruction. Use us in our sphere of influence to point people to Jesus, so they will choose to end their life of abuse, addictions, divorce, and devastation. Teach them, as You taught us, to trust in You alone. Jesus bore the punishment for our iniquity, and He gave us His righteousness in exchange. Help us to understand that we are not walking through life alone, but with Your Trinity abiding within us.
Thought for the Day:
Authentic Born Again Christians live in quietness and confidence, which is our strength; and we dwell in His peace and safety forever, regardless of our circumstances. We are no longer slaves to sin, but God’s servants both now and throughout eternity. He offers this place of serenity to the whole world, if we are humble and submissive enough to accept His loving provision, protection, and presence.
– Isaiah 30:15, 32:17-18
