It Just Takes One!
More than likely, most everyone standing for marriage restoration has heard more than once that if their spouse doesn’t want to “work” on the marriage, there isn’t anything they can do about it…because “it takes two.” But based on the Bible, we know that’s NOT true, because it just takes one.
When Abraham asked Sara to hide the fact that she was his wife and allowed her to be taken into the king’s palace, it isn’t too difficult to imagine the pain and anguish she experienced. She must have felt a terrible sense of betrayal, fear, shame and humiliation, anger and despair because the man who was supposed to protect her was so shamelessly willing to sacrifice her to save his own hide. BUT GOD had another plan, and it just took one; one woman submitting to her husband’s authority in faith and obedience to God! And despite Abraham’s failure to cherish and protect his wife, which was wrong in the eyes of God, Sara’s faith and obedience caused him to be blessed and enriched by the king when she was returned unharmed and fully vindicated! Sara humbled herself under the mighty hand of God and HE lifted her up in due time. So it just took one relying on the power and promise of God’s Word to bring about total deliverance and the prosperity that followed! Read Genesis 20.
When Gomer continued to indulge in adulterous behavior, presented Hosea with illegitimate children during their marriage, and eventually abandoned him and the children to openly pursue a sinful and rebellious lifestyle, the shame and humiliation must have been almost unbearable for Hosea, especially since he had only married a prostitute because God told him to. There must have been times when he questioned God’s plan and why He had asked him to do that when it all turned out so badly. BUT GOD had another plan, and it just took one; one man choosing to care for and protect his dishonorable wife in faith and obedience to God. Even though she had brought such shame to her family and was reduced to being sold on an auction block, through her husband’s reverence for God and willingness to show love though not loved, Gomer was reinstated to a place of respect and honor as his wife. Hosea was faithful to the covenant of his marriage despite his wife’s unfaithfulness, and God upheld it in due time. So it just took one relying on the power and promise of God’s Word to bring about marriage restoration and a lost spouse’s reconciliation with God. Read Hosea 1-3
When a rebellious and ungrateful son asked his father for his inheritance, in effect saying that he wished his father was dead, and departed to places unknown to squander it away on ungodly living; there’s no doubt that his father was heartbroken and terribly disappointed. There must have been times when he wondered what he had done to make his son despise him so much. BUT GOD had another plan, and it just took one; one man devoted to prayer, being watchful and giving thanks in faith and obedience to God. Despite his very immoral and irresponsible lifestyle and the loss of his entire inheritance, when the prodigal son came to his senses and realized he would be better off at home, he was welcomed home with open arms and his return was celebrated with jubilation! The father put his trust in God and let his son depart, and God brought him home in due time. So it just took one relying on the power and promise of God’s Word to bring a time of great loss and intense mourning to a time of incredible joy and celebration! Red Luke 15:11-32
When God invited Satan to test Job and allowed him to kill and destroy his children and everything he owned, and then to cover his entire body with worms and painful sores; when his wife and friends mocked and ridiculed him, offering no comfort or encouragement at all, it’s difficult to imagine the depth of his devastation and despair. Job understandably wondered what he had done to deserve such loss, pain and humiliation, and he felt totally abandoned and forsaken by God, and wished that he had never been born or that the Lord would put an end to the futility and misery of his life. BUT GOD had another plan, and it just took one; one man to hear His voice in the midst of the storm and respond in faith and obedience to God. Even though Job’s wife lost faith and told him to curse God and die; despite how bad the circumstances were, he told her she was talking like a foolish woman, and because of Job’s walk and relationship with God and his prayers for his friends in the midst of his own trials, God blessed both of them with ten more children and twice everything else they had lost! So Job refused to curse God and continued to worship and praise Him no matter what, and God vindicated, blessed and rewarded him in due time. So it just took one relying on the power and promise of God’s Word to bring an end to unbearable suffering and work all that the devil intended for harm and destruction to good and for God’s glory! Read Job 1-42.
So no matter what we face as we stand on the power and promise of God’s Word for the full and complete restoration of our marriages and families, let’s NEVER forget that IT JUST TAKES ONE, and we’re sure to be blessed and encouraged!
Thank you so much for this site and your encouraging messages. Being the standing spouse feels SOOO lonely. Your prayers are your own, and in my marriage I can’t see how God can turn things around. But praise God, I don’t walk by sight (whew!). In the Word, it says His power is perfected in my weakness, and that’s enough to keep me standing! That and faithandmarriage.com!!!
Nik, thank you so much for sharing how the site is helping you as you stand for the restoration of your marriage. I often remind FAM members that we don’t have the grace and anointing needed to stand unles we’re doing it based on the Word of God; we have to know that we’ve heard from the Lord in order to access His power through the Holy Spirit. And when we stand for our own personal pleasure and what we hope to gain, we are in danger because God warns us that we shouldn’t expect to receive anything when we ask with wrong motives. Perhaps you will consider becoming a part of our family (that’s what we call the FAM Fellowship, because we really are like a family) for even more support and encouragement. But I appreciate that you let us know that you’re there and that you’re being blessed by the ministry. Just keep your focus on the Lord and the changes He wants to do in YOU and you will be totally amazed with the results. In fact, you’ll get to see some of that in my next SOF post, because I’ll be sharing some excerpts from recent testimonies on the private site to give God just some of the praise, honor and glory He deserves for the mighty work we have been blessed to witness in our midst. And, of course, NEVER forget that it DOES just take one; one man relying on the power and promise of God’s Word in faith and obedience for the full and complete restoration of your marriage!
Nik, I understand the “lonely” feeling, but know that God is there. Also know that you are not alone, and that there are alot of people experiencing the same thing as you, and that Jesus understands and wants to comfort you at this time. He is enough! God can do abundantly more than we can imagine, so have faith, grow in knowledge and in His love, and you will be amazed at the journey. There is nothing too hard for our God to fix, stand strong, brother, have faith, and praise the God who wants to give you more than you can imagine! God bless!
What a timely post and very much needed today. Just yesterday, another person told me that it takes two to restore a marriage. This morning, I am spending some time listening to God and decided to sign onto our Fam family website and here it is….the affirmation that I need. God continues to be faithful to His word and uses His people to comfort and affirm one another.