God CAN and WILL Turn a Prodigal’s Heart! By Stephanie
(Note from Linda: Stephanie shared this powerful message on the private site last night and I have no doubt that it will be a blessing to everyone standing for marriage restoration, especially when another person is involved. And it is an even more powerful message from Stephanie because the day before, she had been given a “bad report” and chose to stand on the power and promise of God’s Word instead of receiving that news and was then blessed with a wonderful praise instead of what would surely not have turned out well if she had acted on what she heard! Her experience and insight is a perfect illustration of the biblical principles of standing for marriage restoration and confirms just why God teaches us to do what His Word says (Luke 6:46-49); He made us and He knows how we tick! And this powerful testimony should be more than enough encouragement for all of us to renew our commitment to DO things God’s way so we can be assured of getting HIS results, especially since we know that HE hates divorce and marital separation (Malachi 2)! So take the word of this testimony to heart and be blessed and encouraged as you use it to defeat and hurl down the devil the next time he comes calling to steal, kill and destroy your marriage (an earthly representation of our relationship with Christ Ephesians 5:29-32 and 1 Corinthians 11:7), the word of YOUR testimony (that overcomes him – Revelation 12:10-11) and your righteousness, peace and joy (what the kingdom of heaven is all about – Romans 14:17)!)
Hello Everyone,
I was deep in thought today and I want to share some of my experience as a prodigal. At first, I was a little embarrassed to share it, but I realize that was the enemy’s condemnation and that I need to use my testimony as God has commanded, which I hope blesses you and will help overcome and hurl down the devil as you stand for the restoration of your marriage and family (Revelation 12:10-11).
I was very unhappy in my marriage and I didn’t believe I loved my husband anymore; we were always either arguing or giving each other the silent treatment. We lived like strangers in our routine of go to work, come home, take care of the children and repeat it all over again. And I never consulted God on anything; I was too angry and my heart was made of the hardest stone imaginable.
I met someone who “understood me”…someone who sang my praises, complimented me, etc. So I leapt in and did the wrong thing; knowing what I was doing was wrong, and knowing I was sinning against God.
There is a voice within every prodigal that tells them what they are doing is wrong. Every prodigal is shown the way out, but chooses to turn their back on what is “right.” Why? Because we are LOST…we are HURTING…and we are SAD. Yet, we show you, our spouses, that we are happy and that we could not have it better any other way; life is good, we are feeling good and having the time of our lives. Everything we ever wanted is now within this other person and you are now the enemy; you want to rob us of our joy, you don’t understand us, you don’t love us; because if you did, we wouldn’t have gone astray. Prodigals think CRAZY things. We hear the ENEMY’S voice louder than God’s; we have put God’s voice on mute and the enemy tells us that we will be happy if we are divorced from you…then we could be free, happy and fulfilled. It’s all a LIE, but we don’t know that. We even think our children will be “just fine”–another lie. We buy into the “it’s better for me to be happy…then I will be a better father/mother” trap—just another Lie.
We come home to you, our spouses, and you throw stones at us. You tell us what we are doing is wrong. You tell us we need God. You cry, you raise your voice, you act desperate, you act mean, etc. And the prodigal’s instinct…RUN!!! RUN as fast as we can!! Get away from this person!! We think YOU have lost it; not us. And your clinginess, desperation and tears make us sick to our stomachs; not because we don’t care about you–because we do–we love you, but it is hidden so deep inside that we can’t see or feel it. It makes us feel horrible because we KNOW what we are doing is wrong; you don’t need to tell us. We are running from God, and when you act like that, we run from you too.
My husband prayed for me and was the one standing for our marriage during that time. He didn’t know how to do it and often times he was so negative and emotional that I wanted nothing to do with him. Please listen to me–if my husband had been treating me nice, praising me, encouraging me, showing me respect and unconditional love, I would have been blown away. If he had been peaceful, okay with me leaving if that’s what I chose to do, and confident, I wouldn’t have known what to do with the situation. But I would have been drawn to that peace and it would have woken me up.
Believe it or not, I still have to remind myself of these things when I get all worked up and emotional. One would think that I above all, should know this. However, when we are in the midst of the storm, filled with love for our spouse and the desire for restoration, we have a tendency to want to do something, say something…anything to bring them back or keep them from leaving. BUT DON’T DO IT!! There is nothing you can say or do, and everything you say or do in your will, will FAIL. RELINQUISH your spouse to God. Put it all at His feet and walk away. AND DO NOT PICK IT BACK UP!!
You have to get to a point where you are okay either way…with restoration or without it because you are content with GOD and his love. When your relationship and love for God far surpasses that of your wife/husband, you have arrived. And when you are at peace with the thought of them leaving, your blessing of restoration is on its way. Let your prodigal GO!!! God will bring them home.
He brought me home to a man I SWORE I didn’t love, didn’t want to be with, and didn’t want to be in the same room with if it could be avoided. I thought I was in control and I would do as I pleased. Who was going to stop me? God was, but I didn’t know that!!
God indeed stopped me and now I am the one praying to God for my husband’s heart and I am the one who wants restoration. God brought me to my knees when there was nothing and no one else that could help me. Wow!! Just look at what God can do–He can do it, you guys!!! He can and He will!!! Just do your part…LOVE, LOVE, LOVE…respect, support, praise and help. When you are hurt, love them (they hurt too). When you are angry, love them (for they are angry too). God will show us amazing and wonderful things when we follow what he says. He commands us to love even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). And sometimes we feel that our spouse is the enemy, so we have to love them; they need our love because they have been taken captive by the enemy. PRAY THEM OUT!!! PRAY, PRAY, PRAY and be unrelenting!! DO NOT GIVE IN AND DO NOT BE MOVED by what they say or do. IT IS JUST TEMPORARY! GOD has them, so remember that they are NOT in control. Use this time to complete the work that needs to be done in yourself and let God work on your spouse. Restoration won’t work if you’re not ready.
I am writing this with Love, because I don’t want you guys to make the same mistakes. Remember that God wants our marriages restored and our families healed more than we do; we just need to get out of the way and let Him work.
With much love and gratitude to you all,
Stephanie
Oh my word! This is such an encouragement to me today! Thankyou, thankyou.
Stephanie,
Wow! I am still shaking after reading your post. It took me out of the storm and planted me right back on solid ground today.
God, I am done standing in your way. Father, I relinquish my spouse to you. Lord, I am stepping out of the way and trusting you and that restoration is already on its way. Let the peace of the Holy Spirit that is washing over me right now stay over me and keep me comforted in your word and promises, Father, today and tomorrow and forever. Amen.
This post gives me so much more hope than I have ever had. Thanks for sharing this; it’s truly a great testimony.
Will
Stephanie, how encouraging it is to see that the mighty hand of God was working in your life. It is no accident that I am reading your post right now because these were words that I really needed. And I stand on God’s word for restoration with my husband and thank and praise Him for who He is, all He has done and will do!!
Stephanie,
In many ways you have shared my own story. I too prayed and prayed and felt so alone. Only when I finally gave it all to God and felt that “peace” did everything start to fall into place. We still have a long way to go, but I feel God working in us and guiding us in the right direction. I too thought I didn’t want to be with my husband; I thought there was no way we could work through our issues, and that he just didn’t understand and that it would be better and okay for us to part. But within days of him leaving, I realized how wrong I was and how much I truly loved him. It was also then that I started to pray for my husband’s heart, and God has truly worked wonderful things to bring us to where we are today. Thank you for sharing your story; it makes me realize that nothing is impossible through Christ.
Thank you for sharing; your story is my story. I was deceived and left my husband for another man. My heart was sooo hard, and those were the same words my husband spoke to me. And now I’m praying for his heart and for him to forget about the person he was with.
I thought I was alone and I could find nothing to encourage me as I was the prodigal now praying for the restoration of my marriage. God is so good and he guided me to this site so I could read this.
I believe God’s word and I have much more faith now. I know my marriage is being restored; I’m giving it all to him and he WILL restore it as promised in his word. And I believe God! Thank You!
Thank you for sharing.. I’m praying for marriage restoration as my husband has moved out and is now living with the other woman, who is pregnant and about to give birth very soon. At first, I didn’t know what to do, but I finally ran to God.. He is truely my Savior and I thank him for bringing me out of the darkness. Now I have laid everything at his feet while I work on myself and pray and praise the Lord for the restoration of my marriage.
Thank you for sharing, Stephanie. This really encouraged me. I am praying for my marriage to be restored and brand new again, and I have gotten out of God’s way. Thanks so much.
After reading your post, I am encouraged on a new level. I am a standing husband and working on myself and my walk with God. About two weeks ago, I decided to give it all to God and just as told would happen, a remarkable peace came over me since giving it to Him. This week, I came to the place you shared – “You have to get to a point where you are okay either way…with restoration or without it because you are content with GOD and his love.” I am so encouraged with your perspective as well as your words…”And when you are at peace with the thought of them leaving, your blessing of restoration is on its way. Let your prodigal GO!!! God will bring them home.” Thank you so much!
This has given me so much encouragement–thank you so much for posting it.
Thanks so much for sharing your testimony. It gives me hope for the restoration of my marriage. I am working hard at being the person God wants me to be and try not to focus on my husband or the NCP. God bless all of our marriages and families.
This is just what I needed, so thank you for sharing your testimony. I’ve done all I can to restore my marriage and now I am surrendering it all to God.
I have learned that when we finally surrender things to God, we have such peace! Thank you for your testimony. I have been separated for almost a year, and have experienced many blessings along the way.
Blessings to all!
Your Sister in Christ,
Kim
I can’t tell you how much this ministered to me. Your husband sounds like me–trying to fix everything and my wife just keeps running. But no more! She’s in God’s hand…my family is in God’s hand and He will restore my marriage in Jesus’ name!
Your words really touched my heart…you were talking about me in so many ways and I pray for my happy ending. Your testimony was put in front of me at the most perfect time! Thank you so much for sharing your testimony and may God bless you!
Wow, thank you so much. This is just what I needed to wake me up from this nightmare.
I’m glad I found this site and that it even exists. I believe God for the restoration of my marriage; yet with or without my marriage, I’m looking for God to also fix me and my part in my current situation. I’m just seeking after the heart of God. Thank you for this site and ministry. Love in Jesus’ mighty name, amen!
Thank you so much for this testimony. I have been standing for my marriage for six months now with no communication from my husband. I got a bad report that rocked me and then felt horrible because I wondered if I’d learned anything in all this time, so my faith needed strengthening. Your testimony helped me to know that God is not done and that the promises He gave me for the restoration of my marriage, my husband and me still stand . So thank you so very, very much! I’m standing firm with my Lord Jesus Christ! Thank you!
Oh my goodness! This is just what I needed today! I have started to stay quiet and let go more and more every day and to put my trust in God and not man. And I’m no longer crying or begging my husband to save our family and showing him that I’m okay. I know he is coming home and I know what unconditional love is now!
Thank you for such beautiful encouragement. Your sharing speaks such truth!!! My husband left home three years ago, and it’s been a turbulent time for both of us. The most difficult thing God has ever asked of me has been to trust in Him, to give my husband completely to Him and to love no matter what. But I finally understand and it is only by God’s grace and lots of prayers that I still place my hope in the Lord and His promises and I believe deep down that it is not over even though it might seem that way. God is doing God’s work in my husband. God is also working in ME as I wait, and I like who I am becoming in Him and understand that He has to complete His work in me before reconciliation occurs.
This has been an amazing journey and I look forward to seeing God’s power and might and restoration fully manifested. Thank you once again.
Wow! I just found this site and I’ve been doing everything you said not to do!
My wife told me she wanted a divorce after twenty-five years of marriage. I really don’t blame her because we lived as strangers for many years, but there always seemed to be a bond that kept us together.
God crushed me and brought me to my knees and after countless hours of repentence, the fog cleared and things became crystal clear. So I spent the next seven months weeping for not being a good husband, father and family leader. Now my prodigal wife wants nothing to do with God, which is extremely frustrating and heart breaking.
I need to Let go and Let God take over, but being a control freak makes that all the more difficult. But I have faith that God will bring my wife back and I’m a stander for however long it takes!!
Reading this testimony gave me so much hope, so I want to say thank you for restoring my faith. So I promise that from today I will cast all my burdens on the Lord because He cares for me and I will wait on God.
This is wonderful! And I’ve needed to read something like this for some time now because I’ve wanted to do something to win my wife back, and people keep telling me to put her in God’s hands. That’s so tough to do sometimes; yet it is very much what we have to come too. God is faithful–we know that, so now we just have to actually believe it. He is a good, good God! As He tells us, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and you will find rest for your souls.” He’s got our marriages in His hands, so we should be at peace.
Stephanie, thank you so much for sharing your testimony, which has encouraged me and has to have blessed many, many others too. bless you as well! It’s good that our heavenly Father does not Give up on His children!
Brian
Thank you for sharing this. My husband has left again for the fifth time, claiming that he’s not sure if he can love me the way I need. He still has love for the NCP. This has been a three year battle, and I am going down the wrong path again by crying and screaming. I keep pushing him farther and farther away. I know God was working on him and sent him home to me. So thank you for the reminder to stand back and let God do His work.
This is my story exactly!! I’m so glad I found this site! I am putting it all in God’s hands!