Refined By Fire
It was the year that changed everything.
My husband and I were both dealing with personal issues that became overwhelming. We separated and were living apart. My heart was broken as I considered my future as a single parent. I thought about children whose parents are divorced, and I was so bothered by the potential ramifications to my child should our separation become permanent. Of most concern to me was the possibility of our son living out of a suitcase going weekend to weekend being cared for by one parent then the other. I didn’t want this for him, but we couldn’t keep on living the life we were living.
My heart was broken. My life was broken.
My heartache intensified when two women, whom I considered good friends, broke relationship with me. With one I felt abandoned, and with the other, betrayed. Losing my friends in the midst of my separation intensified my grief and escalated my misery.
I felt utterly helpless.
There was one friend, however, that stood with me. She talked with me every day without fail. She checked on me day and night. I came to believe God put this amazing and loving person in my life. She was used by God to minister to me during this difficult time.
I remember one night when things were at a critical point, I looked up and reflected on the wooden plaque on my wall. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). God was speaking to me. He was letting me know, “it’s okay…..
TRUST ME.”
Several years earlier a friend had told me about an online Bible study named Love God Greatly. I signed up. My consistency and commitment to the studies was not as it could have been. I was not very dedicated. But after my separation from my husband, I found that the Bible study was strengthening my relationship with God and it got me through this difficult time. I began printing out my study materials, and every night I would do my devotions.
God spoke to me a lot through the study.
I almost could hear Him saying my name as I read the verses. It was that real. Some days my personal life would be crushing, and I would be ready to give up. Then I would go to my refuge, the Bible study, and God would give me something to keep me going. I would read something from God’s Word that applied to my life and what I was going through, and it would push me to go on. I read passages about praying, being strong, obedient, and serving others. The list goes on and on. Every night I would get my Bible out, write out my passages and do my lesson. I would get so into it that I would write on the front and the back of the pages. I loved it! It was during this time that I was able to focus more on Jesus and less on my situation.
Sometimes Jesus was so near I could have touched Him!
That closeness, that connection with the Almighty. There is none other. Through my pain and hurt, I could still feel joy and happiness within my heart. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that God saw me through this difficult time, and He used the online community of Love God Greatly to do it. Without the study at that time in my life, there was no way I could have coped with what I was dealing with.
God was my safe haven during this difficult time.
It transformed my life. I completed 1&2 Peter, Psalm 119, Galatians, Names of God, and I’m now studying Growing Through Prayer. I committed to being in God’s Word, working through the Bible studies and applying to my life all that He was showing me. I am so grateful to say that God amazingly put my marriage back together, and my husband and I are happier now than we’ve ever been. Although I can’t give my husband’s testimony for him, I am a witness of God’s grace and the miracles He did in his life as well.
This was God’s work.
He has given me a good foundation, and I stand on Him. Jesus enabled me to get through those difficult days of my past, and He is seeing me through my present. My husband was involved in a motorcycle accident requiring three surgeries and an amputation of one toe. Currently, he is still not able to walk. At the same time, my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 lung cancer. He is like my father because he adopted me when I was two years old. These events happened back to back.
God continues to use Love God Greatly to walk me through the difficulties of life. He uses the Bible studies to sustain me through life’s hardships and pain. God continues to speak. He is still letting me know, “It’s okay…..
TRUST ME.”
I no longer feel helpless because God changed everything.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed – 1 Peter 1:6-7
Amanda Bridges, Clarkesville, GA
Post written by Joan, LGG Leadership Team Member
Did you miss last weekend’s #WomenofLGG story? Click here.
Awwwwwe beautiful story. It is great hoe God works with us through His word. I love how far you’ve come darling.
Thank you so much
Wow! I love that and have similar miracles in my life! God is amazing!
That was a beautiful testimony, thank you so much for sharing with us. I feel strength through our studies too. God bless you xxx
Thank you Sarah, God bless you as well 🙂
My circumstances are different, but just as overwhelming. I am trusting Jesus to sustain me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my most reached for scriptures.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you Karen.
Thank you for sharing. Your story is truly our loving God in action. May He continue to bless you and your marriage. Prayers being said for you, your husband and so and your grandfather.
Thank you so much Ann! I appreciate your prayers.
A beautiful testimony… God is so faithful. Thank you for sharing. As we draw close to God – He draws closer to us. In that we become more and more like Him. Love the Lord with all your heart and lean not on our own understanding, but in all of are ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct our paths. I am speaking to myself also in this , A passage I seemed to have forgotten! As we continue to pray for each other – God’s blessing!
Thank you Ann, I’ll never forget that night I looked up and saw those words on that wooden plaque and the calm that flew over me. The reassurance that God gave me telling me it was going to be okay. Ain’t it wonderful when He speaks to us?! Right when we’re at our breaking point? He always shows up, right on time. Thank you for your comment Anne, praying for you as well!
What an awesome testimony to God’s love and faithfulness! He is so good to His children if we will just love Him back.
Love God Greatly I am sure to many is a lifeline to lead us through our earthly challenges while God holds our hands. We all have earthly challenges and we all need God.
Thats an awesome testimony. Yes it is wonderful when he speaks to us. It calms all worries. Am thanking God for bringing you this far. Hold on tight. For we have no one but Him and on earth we desire nothing but Him.(psalm73:25) Prayers sent for your husband and granddad. It is well……. More grace to LGG team.
Thank you! My husband has just been released from the doctor and my grandfather is doing fair. Thank you so much for the prayers 🙂
My circumstances are different, involving health and financial issues, plus abandonment by my church. I have not been faithful with my study of scripture and prayer, feeling abandoned by God as well. Perhaps, after reading this article, I will give it a try and see if it helps.
Elizabeth,
God will never leave you, nor forsake you! I am so sorry about your church not supporting you. Please don’t give up. There are many churches out there and LGG will never abandon you. This ministry is here to pray for you and draw you closer to the Lord, so that you can experience the peace and joy that surpasses understanding, even in the midst of trials. You are loved and cherished as a child of God. You are loved and cherished!
~Netty
God never leaves you. Just move close to Him again. Don’t let anyone or any worldly thing keep you from Him. When it’s all said and done, it’s not about anyone or anything else. It’s just about you and God. Blessings.
Elizabeth, I am so sorry to hear about your troubles! The Bible says:
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. – Deuteronomy 31:6
God is with you. Trust me. I hate to hear that about your church, but you must remember have faith in God, ask for Him to lead you to a church where you can become a member and have a church family. I can assure you, God is with you. You’ve got to reach out to Him. I had to do the same. I will certainly keep you in my deepest prayers, Elizabeth. I pray for peace and comfort to you. Please, if you ever need someone to talk to just let me know. I have an inspirational page on my blog if you would like to follow for encouragement, http://www.honeysucklefootprints.com/
Amen, and God Bless you and your family. Beautiful story
Thank you for your testimony, Karen. I am currently separated from my husband, because of my own foolish actions. I have repented and am praying for marital reconciliation. Stories of saved marriages give me hope 🙂
The Growing Through Prayer study has been a great help. It came at a time when I was hungry to connect with God. I know He wants me to trust Him. I don’t know about my future, but I must trust that it will be okay because of His presence.
And my husband just drove past with his girlfriend in the car. It is so hard to trust right now. I want so much for God to restore our marriage. It is difficult to accept any other answer from Him. Lord, may your will be done in Scott and our marriage. Help me to trust you. In Jesus’s name.
So sorry to hear this, Lisa. I pray for God’s will to be done in your life and I pray that God can send you comfort and peace as He mercifully did for me. I know how you feel, I have been there. Be faithful. God is with you sweetie. I went through some of my hardest times in my life right before my husband and I separated. But I gripped on to Gods Word. I listened and absorbed his messages and his love. I can firmly say LGG, the Bible studies, and most importantly GOD got me through this difficult time. I will keep you in my prayers Lisa. Your story has burdened my heart and I will continue to pray for you. If you would like, I just started up a blog and I have an inspirational section to hopefully spread inspiration to others through it. I set this website up to help others. If you would like to stay connected it’s, http://www.honeysucklefootprints.com/
Many blessings friend.
I am mentoring a young wife and mom who’s marriage is on the cusp of separation. We are doing Growing Through Prayer and is giving her strength through this very difficult time. Thank you for honesty and insight.
There’s a good book called Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. I wish I had studied it years ago.
I have read a book called “Created To Be His Help Meet” by Debi Pearl with No Greater Joy Ministries. It was very insightful. It helps think and look at your marriage in a different way. Just thought Id share. 🙂
Thank you so much for this! My husband just came back home after being seperated for a few weeks. I feel confused. I love God with all my heart, but I don’t know if I love my husband. My kids wanted him back. I know I have to let God work in my marriage and especially my heart. Thank you, because your story, found me at the precise moment I need it the most. I love how God does this!
Thank you for your kind words Jeanette! I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I, too, love how God works at just the right moment! He sends us exactly what we need right at the precise moment. I saw that so much through my LGG studies when we were separated. It was amazing. Love like that is found nowhere else. I am so thankful we serve a mighty and LOVING God!! You and yours will be in my prayers.
Thanks for Proverbs 3-just read it recently and yes, to trust even in the wait! Often times, the waiting time can be a place in our life when we cry out to God-spend more time with HIM and as one author states “something good is going to happen to me” maybe baby steps and not our goal…God’s presence….that’s a very good thing:)
It is a very hard thing to wait when we know what our carnal desires are, but that’s the beauty of it, God knows what we need and we can trust that God will turn it into something good 🙂 It may be completely opposite of what we’re thinking, but it’s even better!
Hi Amy, I am so touched by your message today.. I feel like my marriage is falling apart and I was so discouraged until your story gave me hope. I am learning to establish my faith in God and to trust him more.. I will be a victor and not a victim in Jesus name. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing Andrea – As a person who’s been in your shoes I can say I do know where you’re coming from. It will get better. Trust Him. Lean on Him. Find your peace through Him. Don’t just trust God more, trust Him fully. I got to a point to where I just said “Lord, I’m giving it all to you. Lead me, guide me to do YOUR will and not my own. I will follow your lead and whatever you have me do.” He did just that. He continues to bless our family and I pray with a believing and a full heart that he will do the same for you Andrea. Thank you 🙂 I have a small blog I recently started up to encourage and inspire others, if you’re interested it’s http://www.honeysucklefootprints.com/ . You are in my prayers and thoughts.
Thanks for your testimony. God is alive and He works through us by learning His word, changing our mind and to focus more on Him than our situation.
Thank you for your testimony…. my husband has been gone for 4 months now after 23 years of marriage, there was someone else involved on his side… I have been heart broken, hospitalized several times and have wanted to give up at least once a day since he left. I have felt so hopeless. But many women have come to my rescue to speak Truth to me and walk me through scripture and teach me to trust and rely on God. It is good to hear of marriages restored because I really want that to happen to my marriage!
Dawn, do not give up! I left my family for another man after 22 years. I was gone 10 months before God brought me to the realization that I was in the wrong place. I, too, want restoration in my marriage. My husband says he has “moved on” and has been seeing someone else … seeking divorce. I keep praying that God will work in his heart as He did in mine. It is so hard to wait. Some days I wonder if I should just give up and move on. But God hates divorce. So I keep praying and learning to trust that, no matter what, God is with me.
Dawn, I’m curious … what Truth did people speak to you? And what Scripture have they been walking you through?
I’m so sorry to hear about you and your husband Dawn. Trust fully on God. Give your circumstances to Him. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Regardless if your marriage is reconciled or you’re forced to move on, I pray God brings happiness & glory back to your life.
Jeanette, I would encourage you and your husband to seek counseling together. Focus on the Family has some good resources for marriages in crisis. I have messed up HUGE and would love another chance. My idea of what marriage is all about has been evolving so much. I am burdened for couples who are struggling. Families are so important to God … we really need to fight harder to save them. The enemy wants to destroy them … and us. We need to fight him instead of each other.
I made a decision to get my life back on track with Christ in New Years eve. I started the growing through prayer study. I haven’t been as faithful as I should at times. I’ve been in a up and down relationship for 3 years. Recently moved myself and my 3 kids in with him against better judgement. I have felt like I’ve been fighting the spirit since we moved in. It’s not a Godly relationship or one that is healthy for my kids. I’ve prayed for him and for us. Through prayer and study of God’s word I decided I needed to move out. I signed a lease last week and moving day is tomorrow. I haven’t told him yet because I know he will unleash some really harsh words like he always does. I’ve been so worried and nervous about the move till Wednesday night at church. We are studying in Philipians. It’s like God spoke directly to me when the preacher said, it’s not about your feelings it’s what God is trying to teach you. I needed that! I’m still working on not worrying over the details of the move. I know this is what I need to get closer to God. Today I am finally able to sit down to catch up on my reading. Reading your testimony was such a blessing, thank you! This site and Bible study has been such a blessing and a portal of encouragement.
Ryanne – I will be praying for you! Sometimes it’s so hard for us to turn our lives over to God and just say “what do you want me to do” but when we do and we get into His will instead of our own, we notice things starting to change. I pray the best for you and your family!
Ryanne – did you get moved to your new place? You have been in my prayers.