Hey covenant Groupies,
In James 1:2-4, the scripture says, “Count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations (various trials); knowing this, that the trying of your faith (testing) worketh (produces) patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire (complete) wanting (lacking) nothing.”
The scripture doesn’t say IF, but WHEN we go through something, we are to allow the trial to grow us spiritually; our allowance will make way for our perfection. Not perfection as in; blameless, sinless, or holier than thou, but mature in faith. Like wise, we aren’t to enjoy the trial; that would be crazy, but we are to see the victory that God has in store for “those who love Him.” Marriages are one of those areas of our lives that trials and temptations will test us and test us BIG!
In 2008 Kevin and I were testing in such a way that it frightened the both of us. When we were dating Kevin said to me that he wouldn’t know how he’d make it if his mother passed away. Well, she had been sick since we’d been married, I’d always prayed about being a source of hope, love and strength whenever it happened. So, guess our surprise when we got a call May 2008 saying that Mom was I the hospital. Because we hadn’t been informed of any sickness, we thought we were just going to visit. Instead she was hooked to ventilator, she couldn’t breathe on her own, her limbs were dying, there was no brain function, her kidney’s weren’t functioning. She was dying. WHAT?!!!!!!!!
SIDE NOTE: My mother-in-law was the best at the game of mother-in-law’s. This woman, literally, took me by the hand and truly introduced me to her son. She shared the good, bad, ugly of this man, because, she admitted that most of them came from her. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until later in life that she realized that some of her habits were wrong. To right her wrong, she gave me thorough insight to my husband and how to deal with him in a manner often undeserving of his particular ways. Ultimately, what she did was give me an avenue in which to afford my husband more forgiveness than I could normally or would want to muster up. How loving is that? She took total responsibility for the negative influences she bestowed upon her son; influences that she knew would or could wreck our marriage.
Yes, two days after Kevin and I arrived at the hospital, his Mom passed away and I was left with the man who had no clue what he’d do without his mother. He was left with a wife who was afraid for his mental health. Despite the fact that Kevin was not a momma’s boy, his mom made sure of that, Kevin was extremely close to her and her to him. It was the interactions between the two of them that I found fertile ground to grow in love with Kevin. But god was so Good. The very next Sunday we were at church and Kevin was KEVIN. We were able to talk openly about mom and how much we missed her. That's God. That's answered prayer!!
So, I guess, in all likelihood, we should seek out ways to best prepare ourselves for such inevitabilities. This, one of our many trials, really pulled Kevin and I together in ways that we never thought it could. We found out who we were for and with one another. We recognized that our trials have become the perfect discipline to rid our faith of any impurities and all falsehood; because they delivered to us, on a platter, who we really are individually and as a couple. No, as a couple, we’re not perfect, but we have been matured and will continue to be available for more growth.
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