Trust the Holy Spirit to Connect the Dots

This past weekend we held a marriage intensive at the Marriage Hub. One of the wives who was coming called a few days before and wanted to cancel because she found out more things about her husband . . . and she was done. She was tired of fighting him and tired of fighting for her marriage. She wanted out of the intensive. We have a strict cancellation policy for this very reason so her and her husband showed up Friday night.

She said that they had been in counseling for years and she had heard the same things over and over. But Saturday something clicked. I'm going to share what their coach Todd told us when he updated us . . .

after years of counseling she finally "got it" (during our personal responsibility section). She said that suddenly she was filled with peace and the anger left her body...and we could actually see her face and body relax and change...yes, actually like a light switch! She then turned to her husband and told him she forgives him (for all the infidelity). Go figure...we didn't even teach the forgiveness section yet! He sat there stunned and motionless for a second...and she calmly looked him in the eyes and said, "yes, this is real...I forgive you from my heart." And then kissed him on the lips. He (one of the most inexpressive and afraid men we've encountered in an intensive) started sobbing and they held each other tightly.

This isn't a plug for the Marriage Hub (but feel free to check out our website if you want more info themarriagehub.com), it's a plug for the Holy Spirit.

In October I started reading John Eldredge's book Get Your Life Back. I had given my life to worry. I've been reading the Bible for 40 years and hearing over and over the verse in Matthew saying,

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

But I was still consumed by anxiety and worry.

In Get Your Life Back John Eldredge says we are meant to live care-free -- without worry and to run carefree thru fields of wildflowers . . . or wade in creeks. Or just not be weighed down.

But I couldn't get there.

For the past 11 months I've been meditating on Psalm 143: 8-10

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

God loves us. His love is unfailing. It's so rock solid that we can put our trust in Him. His love for us is higher, wider, deeper and longer than we can fathom. His legs won't buckle when we put ALL our cares on Him. He carried the weight of the world at the cross . . . He can hold all our stuff.

He tells us over and over again not to worry, not to be anxious. We can detach ourselves from our worry . . . untangle it from around our necks . . . and give it to God. And we can walk carefree. I don't need to escape into a good book or a cheesy Hallmark movie when I trust in God's love. I don't need to numb my mind with candy crush or social media. Jesus says why don't you give me your worries, fears, insecurities and disappointments . . . and I'll give you your life back.

At Christmas it finally clicked. Jesus came and lived here on earth as Emmanuel so I could live care-free and carefree. The Holy Spirit connected all the dots . . . connected what was in my mind to my heart. He gave me the gift of being able to lay down my worry and walk away.

Strangely, it feels weird. My brain feels blank. I don't know what to do with myself or how to interact with God in this new space. But I'm not going to worry about it.

What I am going to do is try to give the people in my life a little more grace in my mind. I'm not going to get frustrated when they "just don't get it" after hearing it over and over (and over). I'm going to trust the Holy Spirit to connect the dots for them in His time and in His way (and for Him to lead them to level ground). I'll support them and encourage them and, when the opportunity presents itself, speak the truth in love.

And if you hear me worrying, give me grace cause I might forget everything I've learned until the Holy Spirit reminds me again (and again). I know for myself, the longer something takes to root in my heart the longer it will bloom.

May each morning bring you word of God's unfailing love and may we all live carefree in 2023!

Photo by Luke Southern on Unsplash