Restoration
“On the outside I seemed committed, but I had barely even opened my bible at home”
I didn’t attend church until I was 14. A friend asked me to go with her because she didn’t want to go alone. I went out of curiosity and I was attracted to the acceptance that was shown by the church members so I continued attending. While my reason for going to church was more social, I eventually became involved in helping with the kindergarten Sunday school class. On the outside I seemed committed, but I had barely even opened my bible at home. The church did not teach about having a personal relationship with Jesus, however, and I didn’t know any better. I figured that I was a basically good person.
A few years later I met my husband, Jim, we were married, and five years later we welcomed our first child, Lindsay. I continued attending this church, but Jim didn’t want to go. He would go on Christmas and Easter, but he had no desire to go any other time. His priority was sports and drinking and couldn’t get up on Sundays so I continued to go alone. Our marriage was suffering almost to the point of divorce.
“As she spoke, I realized that all my preconceptions were wrong! What I had was religion and ritual, not a relationship!”
After years of this, my sister-in-law invited me to a Bible study. I was nervous because I didn’t know much about the Bible. On the first night, I began talking to the lady seated next to me. She shared her testimony about accepting Christ and the relationship she had with Him. As she spoke, I realized that all my preconceptions were wrong! What I had was religion and ritual, not a relationship! This precious lady spoke the truth to me. I finally understood what I needed to do. When I got home I knelt down, alone in my living room, and surrendered my heart to Jesus! I immediately felt peaceful, like a weight was lifted off my shoulders! I was so excited to tell the lady about how her testimony had encouraged me to make that huge commitment to the Lord. I called the group leader to get contact information for the woman, but she didn’t know who I was talking about. The next week, no one from the group knew who she was and the woman never showed up again to the Bible study. I believe God sent an angel to help me make the most important decision of my life!
I was like a sponge! I studied the bible, read devotionals, took notes at Bible Study, and dove headfirst into a new relationship with God. As God changed me, Jim watched from the sidelines. He didn’t want to hear anything about God and didn’t want me to think he was going to change too.
One Saturday evening, Jim hurried out the door for another night of sports and drinking. I knew I couldn’t endure this for the rest of our marriage. I decided that he was going to have to choose between his family and his sports and drinking. I never imagined that divorce would be an option for me, but it seemed imminent.
Meanwhile, in my Bible study, I was learning about being unequally yoked. Our lesson described our marriage and I didn’t have any idea how to change Jim’s heart. Others in the group told me to pray for Jim and to give him over to God. God was powerful enough to handle Jim’s hard heart. I began praying every day for God to change Jim’s heart. I claimed God’s promise: “I will restore to you the years the swarming locusts have eaten“ Joel 2:25.
“ To my amazement, he said that he tried to fight it, but he couldn’t keep his hand down and he had prayed to receive Christ! My prayers were answered! ”
After praying this way for four years, along with my sisters in Christ, a friend invited me to a special service at her church. I asked Jim to go so I wouldn’t be alone in a new church. Reluctantly, he said yes. After the service, Jim commented on the message. I wanted to go back to this new church to hear more of this powerful preaching. The next week, Jim agreed to go with me again. He commented that the pastor had said things that spoke directly to him.
Then Easter Sunday arrived. Jim and I attended both morning and evening services! All throughout the services I was praying that Jim would accept Christ into his heart. When the pastor gave the altar call after the second service, I kept my eyes closed. I didn’t want to mess things up by catching Jim’s eye and have him feel embarrassed. Later that night, I asked Jim what he thought about the invitations to receive Christ. To my amazement, he said that he tried to fight it, but he couldn’t keep his hand down and he had prayed to receive Christ! My prayers were answered!
Soon, Jim joined a Bible study group to get to know who God is. On top of that, God convicted him about his excessive drinking and he gave that up. He began sharing his experience with everyone he met. I was so happy to finally have a family rooted completely in Christ. Today, we attend Radiant Church and continue to grow together in our faith. At every chance we get, we are volunteering, attending community groups and bible studies, and striving to grow closer to God. God has been so good to us! He pursued both of us and restored our marriage!
Do you feel your story can serve as a hope and inspiration to others? Contact us at mystory@radiant.church.