Marriage Crisis Management

“God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the reliable ones.” ~ Oswald Chambers

On most road trips, if it’s long enough, there comes a time when you want to let your traveling companion off at a rest stop … and drive away. At this point in our journey, I’m ready to leave Abraham on the side of the road. How could he do that to Sarah – TWICE?

Let’s recap: In Genesis 12 God calls Abraham to leave home and travel to a land where God promised to make him and his family into a great nation. Along the way, Abraham built altars and God spoke to him, confirming that Abraham was his man.

And then came a crisis. Crises can make wimps and jerks of us all.

Abraham was no exception. When famine struck, Abraham (without any mention of praying or altar building or waiting to hear from God) heads to Egypt. Out of fear, he tells his wife to say that she’s his sister so that when the Egyptians see how gorgeous she is, they won’t kill him. Fast forward eight chapters to Genesis 20 and Abraham pulls this “sister” stunt AGAIN. HOW COULD HE?

In Chapter 8 of The Cry of the Hidden Heart, “A Help in Crisis,” we learn how to look to God when our husbands are weak. This is where the rubber hits the road. Anyone can have a great marriage when it’s for better, for richer, and in health. But there’s a reason why our vows included for worse, for poorer, and in sickness. These times come to us all. Are we prepared when they do?

Hidden Heart Ministry was born out of two crises: a marriage crisis and a health crisis. One founder’s marriage was on the brink; this was the impetus for a few friends to rally around her and seek God for wisdom and comfort. Shortly thereafter, Karen Bacon’s husband was diagnosed with incurable cancer and these same friends sought God for healing and direction. They read the Bible and prayed as though their lives and marriages were on the line – because they were.

A crisis can make for a very motivated student. As Karen said, “Finding God in the midst of our crisis and being a helpmate to my husband who was struggling with a life-threatening disease were lessons I had to learn. And God had planted me in the best learning situation. We had a tremendous need. I had come face to face with my own helplessness to change my husband’s condition. Maybe for the first time in my life I realized I was completely dependent upon God.”

It was in the crisis crucible that these ordinary housewives leaned fully on the supernatural, transcendent, overcoming power of Jesus Christ. They, like Sarah, experienced how God was their perfect protector and provider, empowering them to love their husbands in their weakness.

They clung to God’s promise:

“Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated … For your Maker is your husband – the Almighty is His name – the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.” Isaiah 54:4-5

Let’s face the fact of this fallen world – your husband is either in crisis or one is coming. You don’t have to live in fear of some “shoe waiting to drop.” The Holy Spirit will give His power and peace to help you be a means of strength and encouragement.

Will you be ready? Will you be the reliable one?