I came across a verse a couple of nights ago that has affected me so deeply that I wanted to share it all with you. I know it's a little "sappy religious" but bare with me:<P>"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."<P>I do not know if you'all are very religious or spiritual people, but this particular verse meant a lot to me. I am Jewish, but that doesn't mean that occasionally the New Testament doesn't have a good message! <P>Anyway, what I saw when I read this verse is that God called each one of us. He wants us and He desires us, and considering the fact that we've been rejected and dumped, feeling wanted is really comforting. <P>HOWEVER, we have to suffer a while first, and God is funny. "A while" to Him does not mean the minute or two that it means when we say it. It may be "a while", so get ready!<P>That also means to me that there will eventually be an end to it, and that He has a plan about how long it will last, what you need to learn from your suffering, and why. It's not just meaningless, hopeless suffering, but rather in the end, it will make you a wiser, more mature, more spiritual person. <P>I also see that GOD HIMSELF will restore. After our suffering, and after we have learned the lesson we need to learn, God will not send someone else to help us out--He will come HIMSELF! We will have the chance to have God Himself minister to us.<P>Last but not least, He will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast. Do you remember how you felt before this whole thing started? You felt secure and strong and solid, but now you feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you and nothing that you THOUGHT you could depend on is reliable. You have to suffer a while first. But after you have suffered, and after you have learned your life lesson, and after you have become wiser and become the person that you have the capability to be, THEN God Himself will give you back your strength, and your security and your trust--you will feel firm and reliable again. <P>So, hang in there. Become the man or woman that you were meant to be, and keep your focus on being the very best man,<BR>father and eventually husband (or woman, mother and eventually wife) that you can. What are your life-lessons that you NEED to learn? <P>Okay, just my thoughts. Hope it wasn't too preachy, but I'll tell you, that verse really brought me some comfort and I thought it might make some of you'all feel better too.<P><BR>CJ<BR><P>------------------<BR>Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Thanks, CJ!<P>Another passage that jumped out at me in January was Isaiah 54. I'm using it as my "passage for the year" and it's been very helpful. (I don't have any kids, so it really spoke to me.)<P>Thanks for the encouragement!<BR>Aloha,<BR>Mrs.O<BR>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FaithfulWife:<BR><B>"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>WOW!! I have never prayed as much as I am praying now. I have never felt closer to God than I feel now. When my world starts crumbling, I pray and I feel his calming comfort. So I'm in the "little while" stage.<P>I firmly believe that this is all happening to me for a purpose, one which I don't understand. I have come to accept that which I cannot change and have put my faith in full effect. I know that he will not give me more than I can handle.<P>I can't wait for the "restore" part of my life. I know that through all of the mess I will come out a lot closer to my Creator and on judgement day I shall walk through the narrow gate to sit at the right hand of the Lord.<P>Great saying and no you were'nt too "preachy".<P><P>------------------<BR>Love, Bill<P>-There are none so blind as those who refuse to see!-<BR>-Stand up and do the right thing, even if your standing alone.-

Mrs. O - I found that scripture when I was beginning to come out of my pain and it was very healing. I especially like verses 4-8. <P>I had married young. Had children late. And now I was being dumped so painfully. And I was ashamed that this had happened to ve. I really felt disgraced. The description of "a wife deserted and distressed in spirit - a wife who married young, only to be rejected" was so appropriate. <P>But I do feel as if I have been brought back. And I feel I have discovered a large measure of God's compassion.<P>Life's never going to be exactly the way I had envisioned it, I don't think. But it's pretty good and I have only one major goal to achieve before I will feel my healing just about complete.<P>

CJ,<P>Could not agree with you more!<P>If you have noticed, I haven't been around as much. God's strength has really kicked into high gear with me. My life feels like it is slowly getting back on track. It has now been a month since my divorce and the pain is FINALLY beginning to ease. Sure I still miss her at times, but I feel so good knowing that I did everything I could - I made every possible attempt to save my marriage, but more importantly I believe I handled myself as God would have wanted me to. Never giving into the anger or the fear, but rather living each day, knowing - absolutetly knowing that things WILL get better. I chose to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel and not so much the journey it took to get there. And I chose to focus on my love for my wife. Many thought I was crazy and a chump, letting her walk all over me - but I knew deep down that my love for her was worth all the pain and effort.<P>While I have had no contact from my wife, I am fine with it. I have such a sense of peace right now - a peace I have not felt in well over 2 years. She is still and will always be a special person to me, but she wanted out so I let her go.<P>Very recently someone new has entered my life. Nothing big - nothing serious. I will be taking things very, very slow (my wife has been gone for about 15 months now and I believed it was time to start looking around again). There is still a lot I have to deal with about my religious beliefs and my vows, but I will get through them one day at a time. As I knew in the beginning of all this, divorce opens up many more problems than it solves (for both spouses).<P>For all of you here at MB, know that it does and it WILL get better. Chances are as sad as you may become, I have been there times two. There were days when I felt I could not go on - The one saving grace in it all was prayer. There were several times I prayed so hard my chest actually hurt from the pain. But looking back I now see how certain prayers were so clearly answered, while others may have just been put on-hold. Know that God is there for each and everyone of you - all you need to do is ask for His help. Just as much as you pray, you need to be calm and "listen" for His answers - so often they come from the least likely places.<P>Even though I don't stop by here as often, please know that I keep all of you in my prayers each day. I will never forget what this place has done for me - finding MB was in my opinion a "gift from God". Write exactly what you feel when you feel it. Listen to the replies you get and above all keep an open mind.<P>As I have so often said in the past "I'm sorry that you are here, but I'm happy you are here".<P>Good luck to all and God bless...<P>Mike<P>PS: Don't think I'm leaving for good - I will definitely stop by to post here and there. Take care.<P>------------------<BR>God always waits for the right time to do the right thing in the right way.