It is six years today.
Six years clean.
Six years free.
Six years committed to God, to my husband and to letting love rule and not my own self.
And I’m writing about it on (in)courage this morning.
Giving God a Year
Six years ago today I gave God a year.
January 4, 2004.
I’d just confessed to an affair, my marriage was in shambles and I had no idea what the future held. I didn’t know if my husband was going to leave me or if he’d take our daughter with him.
I couldn’t bear to think about the next day and I didn’t know what would happen tomorrow. My “future” was as hazy and undefined as it ever had been.
So I gave God all that I had, because honestly at the time, I had very little of my own. My integrity was shot. My marriage was fractured. Every one of my relationships with friends and family members were iffy at best and rocked at worst. To be the most hideous of clichés, I had hit rock bottom.The only where to go was up.
The weekend after my life fell apart (or rather began) my pastor preached a sermon. He asked us to “give God a year” and see what could happen…
Click HERE to read the rest.
Can you give God a year?
i am so proud of our Jesus and what He has done in your life. just watched the video of you and your precious husband sharing the power of the cross and your humbleness and willingness for the Lord to work in you is so evident. following you on google reader now. have a wonderful day in Jesus!
Praise His name! You gave Him that year and look what He did, not what you did but what He did.
Thank you for sharing your story, in boldness.
Blessings!
Yes, I can. And yes, I will.
One day at a time. Yes, I will. He is so worth it. Thanks for continuing your journey and keeping us along for the ride. It helps me to stay and the right track. Happy New Year and Congratulations!!! Time really does fly.
Well done, Sarah. You and Chad are an inspiration to many people; thank you for your willingness to use your life as an example to others. Jesus’ love and redemption really shines through you. *sister hug*
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your story and the way that God turned your life and marriage around! My husband and I have a very similar story to tell, so I appreciate hearing your heart! God bless you in the new year!
Beautiful. This encouraged me to keep pushing through the difficult times with my husband. We too started down this new journey about a year ago. It just seems like with the new year came some new hardships on our relationship. This was a good reminder that God is still working on our marriage & we are still in the healing phase.
It’s now or never… Thank you again for all the encouragement!!
God is SO good!!! Thanks for the wonderful encouragement…
reading this made me recall a time when God told me “your life will look different a year from now.”
i was sitting in a strange church, in a strange town, with strange people, away at “A Walk to Emmaus.”
i sat in a church, feb 10th, 2001, for what seemed like hours.
we had the opportunity to speak with a pastor, to receive counsel, to be annointed with oil. but i wouldn’t move from my seat. i was bitter, angry, mourning, and wanting…wanting my son back.
and God said to me “Denise, your life will look different a year form now.”
exactly 1 year later i was in a hospital room, remembering that promise, holding that promise in my arms- josefine (which means “may God add”).
yes! he can do a lot with just 1 year!
love you friend.
we were just discussing this today. what a difference a year makes. a year of brokeness before each other and the Lord, a year of learning how to love each other again but mostly a year of walking in obedience with our faithful, redeeming God. as always, thanks for sharing your story. it speaks.
Sarah – I continue to admire the beautiful woman you are and the story you have shared with us all. I’ve been married 31 years (to the same man!) and we have never had the amazing relationship you and Chad have – with each other, and with our awesome Saviour… I want to be just like you when I grow up!!
Sarah,
Kudos to you both. It is such hard work to recover a marriage. Your lives are such a ministry.
Wishing you all the best… Nicki
Surrendering 100% is the key…. so proud to know you !
I just found your blog through Cindy Beall’s…and I hope you don’t mind that I quoted you here.
I love that God is showing that He is powerful enough to heal broken and destroyed marriages! He is so good, and so merciful, and so faithful, and so powerful, and so miraculous, and so much everything that we will ever need! And HE DOES ALL THINGS WELL!!!
-Katie <
http://www.HopeIsCalling.com
My first comment was deleted…I think because I included my blog url, in case you were wondering WHERE I quoted you. But anyway…I found you through Cindy Beall’s blog this morning, and I did quote you…and I hope you don’t mind.
I love that you and she are testifying that our God is, indeed, strong enough to restore marriages, for this is a message that the world and the church sorely need to hear! But He can, and He does, for His is faithful and merciful and so AWESOME!
He does all things well!
And sometimes, you wait a year for a miracle and God works miracles in one of you but not the other… and it takes miracles of God being your hearts desire for the miracle in your marriage to happen… and it didn’t. And it’s really sad to see the reality of not what God didn’t do but what free will sometimes does especially when coupled with mental illness. Sometimes things don’t turn out as hoped or expected but God is ALWAYS good, faithful, loving, merciful, my protector, my provider, my defender… the ONLY one on whom I can rely. In my year of waiting, I have learned much about the One who loves me as no other. And for that, I am so thankful… for in Him, I can continue walking, one day at a time into an unknown future.
It’s been quite a year. A friendship of 30 years that is no longer and some challenges in my marriage. But I do believe that a year is what it takes. Just like if someone has surgery it’s not just about the 2 month mark or 3 month mark. It takes a year. You have to believe and wait and pray to see as I truly believe that we do not know the reason why some things happen but you need to believe.
Laura T
i LOVED loved LOVED this post.
this is my year, God. do with it—and me—what You will!
Wow. I am reading a book right now and I have put it into effect called Give God a Year, Change your life forever.
I have given my life up to God, everything my marriage, my finances, my children, my business all to God.
And I am excited about the big pictures and I see the Changes already after 6 days.
Thank you for the post.
What a beautiful story you have of God’s complete mercy and grace. May He continue to give you a passion for Him! Praise Jesus for 6 years of being made new!
Hugs,
Sarah