It’s not too late to change (Part II)
2022.01.03
I feel so burdened by the story of Art and Lysa TerKeurst’s divorce. Not only is it
sad: it’s heart-breaking. It hurts so many people, but the person who is
determined that they need to follow the thing that they are attracted to is
impossible to convince. They can’t hear you. The words you say literally don’t
make sense to them. You may think I am just being judgmental when I say this,
but I must say that I speak from experience. Sometimes the lessons we learn in
life, we had to learn the hard way. That is what happened to me in this instance,
but God! God was gracious to me. He opened my eyes before it was too late, and
I just feel compelled to share what I learned here in case it could help someone
else.
There was a time that you could not reason with me. I almost walked away from
everyone I love for a LIE. So, I want to say to Art TerKeurst and anyone else who is
struggling: an affair is a LIE. It’s not the answer, and God will not bless it. you may
think you are in love, but you are NOT. There is a time that you will read this and
wish you had listened. I hate to say that: but if it helps anyone else, it’s worth it!
Satan is a liar! God IS good! And Satan IS a liar. Remember that. What Satan says
SEEMS good, but what God says, really IS good! Satan says: ‘there’s something
better for you outside your family’ and God says: ‘I gave you your family! It’s the
best family for you to love! They need you!’ But if we are not walking with God,
we do not believe that. We believe that God is somehow holding out on us.
Satan deceives those who are not in the Word of God. I know this from personal
experience! When I made the most foolish choices in my life, I was not in the
Word. I had forgotten what God says is good really IS good! So, when I returned
to God after a time of wandering, I was horrified at how the Enemy had deceived
me so easily. But if I am honest, it did not happen overnight. It happened after a
long time of drifting away from being in love with Jesus. I got complacent. I forgot
what He did for me. And then when my world fell apart, I blamed God and tried
whatever I could to make myself happy.
It was not until I turned back to God, turned away from my sin, and started
seeking Him with my whole heart that I became happy. Truly happy! In love with God! In love with my husband! And caring so, so, much for the people he put in
front of me, beginning with my family. Oh yes, God is so good!
And here is the warning from Proverbs 5:7-14: ‘So now, sons, listen to me, and
don’t turn away from the words from my mouth. Keep your way far from her.
Don’t go near the door of her house. Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to
others and your years to someone cruel; strangers will drain your resources, and
your hard-earned pay will end up in a foreigner’s house. At the end of your life,
you will lament when your physical body has been consumed, and you will say,
‘How I hated discipline, and how me heart despised correction. I didn’t obey my
teachers or listen closely to my instructors. I am on the verge or complete ruin
before the entire community.’ See, it is possible to be strongly attracted to
something that will destroy you. And once you have played with and allowed an
attraction to develop, it can be hard to end it. But guess what! You can do it!! We
do not tell ourselves that something is impossible that God says IS possible! We
can turn our backs on a sinful relationship and experience real freedom, and
guess what, you may even get your family back. But even if you don’t in this life,
getting right with God will be worth it all. And please hear this: it is STILL not too
late to get right with God! He is literally waiting for people to come to
repentance! The thing (or person) that you are holding on to is a lie! They might
be a good person, but they have no business being in your life. Go make things
right with God, with your family and find joy and freedom.
And here is an indicator of whether or not you are in trouble from Proverbs 9:8:
‘Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise and he will love
you.’
-can anyone confront you in any area of your life? Do you listen when someone
tries to rebuke you? Or do you get angry and hate the person who tried to stop
you from doing something that will probably end up destroying you? Don’t get me
wrong, I know it’s hard to be humble and say: maybe I’m wrong! There was a time
in my own life that I found myself here: unwilling to listen, annoyed at anyone
who did not agree with me. Well, all I can say is this: that is a dangerous place to
be! And if you stay there, it will kill you. Here’s the thing. You must take a step
toward God and away from your sin even while the sin still seems attractive. But then the miracle will happen! Your eyes will be opened, and you will see the
sin you were trapped in for the ugly thing that it really IS. And you will be so
thankful that God came and got you that you will never want to be away from
Him again! That’s exactly what happened to me, and it can happen for you too.
We are made to be overcomers! We overcome in the strength God provides! Its
counter-intuitive but true. Start by humbling yourself before your Creator and
believe that the plans He has for us are GOOD and BETTER than anything you
could come up with for yourself. All we are capable of on our own is idolatry, and
idolatry leaves you worthless, like the thing that you are clinging to. The Bible has
the answers, and I am so thankful that God has given me this desire to be in His
word. He promises not to turn anyone away who is truly desiring to know Him!
What a great promise! (Psalm 34:22).
I walk around these days with an overwhelming sense of joy. I am so thankful for
my husband, my family, and the way God has met me. I want to know Him more,
and to hide His word in my heart. I want everyone I know to realize the only
answer is found in Jesus. And then, He will be gracious to you like He is to me. He
freely gives us all things to enjoy when our eyes are on Him.
