Strength is available to all who seek it. Encouragement to stand against wrong or to fight against evil is all over God’s word. From the beginning when God told the serpent that He would ultimately crush him, to David slaying the unthinkable in Goliath. For those standing for their marriage scriptures of Gomer come to mind as well as the knowledge that God hate divorce. When you open God’s word, strength can be found in every situation. You can read David’s Songs throughout Psalms and relate his frustration, concerns, life, deliverance and ultimate love for his Creator to almost every aspect of your own daily life. God’s strength is everywhere.

Then why are we such a discouraged people? Why, when we see stories told in God’s word that are clearly shown to represent faith and ultimate triumph to us are we so easily bent toward being discouraged in our own life?

I’m sure the answer partially lies in knowing God’s word, but struggling to know is was AND it is. Struggling to understand “Tell them I AM sent you” (God telling Moses to return to Pharaoh and deliver his people from Egypt). If hearing “I AM” doesn’t send chills down your spine I can’t think of what would. Before Abraham was……..I AM.

Our struggle comes in understanding that I AM does not mean I was. It doesn’t mean I would, it means I WILL. It means that when God sets His mind, His will is accomplished and there is great victory and hope in that message!

The other reason I believe we are discouraged instead of filled with hope and victory is the church of Jesus has forgotten this same message. Our family, preachers, ministers have tried to preach God’s word for centuries but as our culture tends to move away from God and they see divorces and heartache come faster than they can begin to help, they lose hope as well that marriages can be saved and indeed they are. Our encouragement, instead of being “Fight and save your marriage until God releases you from that burden” becomes “You’ll be okay in time, and who knows, maybe it’s for the best”.

Why do we meet together at with our body of believers? Why are we shown and encouraged not to forsake coming together as Christians? Why are we told to encourage one another in the Lord daily? Our relationship with Jesus is personal, it’s not corporate, yet He asks us to meet together, worship together, break bread together. Why? Because we weren’t created to do it alone. This journey, though very personal, is in need of others to grow. When we are discouraged the FIRST place we ought to be able to go is to our church. When we’re depressed every friend that is a believer ought to surround us with joy and life and pray with us and fight with us. We are to do it together. Again, why? One reason…a discouraged Christian is of no use to the world that so needs Christ and His encouragement. We are to encourage each other so that we can encourage those in the world that need the Light of Jesus! We can’t do that while we can’t even find encouragement to stand for our own marriage and family.

Yes, marriages fall apart, yes divorces happen, yes every marriage is not saved…but until you know that you have done all…STAND. Be encouraged, wait on the Lord for He will renew your strength.

For those standing for your marriage that don’t know about this group…I spent some time Tuesday in Nashville, TN with Joe Beam and his staff at LovePath International. These guys save marriages. That’s what they do. They save un-savable marriages every day with a success rate that blows the mind and I’ve seen Joe do this for over a decade. Tens of thousands of marriages (almost all of them 1 spouse was currently in an affair, abandoned the family, no interest in the marriage, etc) have walked away with a better marriage than when they married after this 3 day intense seminar.

Think your spouse would never come? That’s what they do. If you’re interested in LovePath and want more info call Marty. He’s a personal friend and the Sr. Vice President of LovePath International. He can help lead you to saving your marriage. You can call him at 866-903-0990. Ask for Marty and just tell him that you know Seth Cox at MarriageWalk. He’ll make sure you’re taken care of, even if you just have questions on how to save your marriage.

God bless you this week. Stay encouraged and stay the course.

Seth

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