For the past few months, an old friend has surfaced in dire needs. She married a fella she'd dated years before... he was headed into the ministry and she fell again hopelessly in love with the man.
After 3 years, an ugly story unfolds of mental abuse, neglect, blamming, anger, threats, manipulation and control that continues to unfold slowly over time as the true story comes out.
I'm baffled and strugglin to know how to mentor and witness to this person. There seems to be some serious risk of physical attack. The man's behaviors do not resonate with anything Godly I know, but even in long term counseling, its apparent that there is no accountability, just blaming everyone else...even to the point where he's lost his job as a minister in another state.
Now this woman faces relocation with someone who is a viable threat.
Please ramp up our prayer machine to ask God to show her insight, discernment, peace and strength. She needs to know His will in dealing with this flawed marriage and how to proceed.
She is the main focus, but I too, could use prayer. I fall way short of God's wish when it comes to men who abuse women. I'm contantly on guard in corresponding with this gal, but I fear that my lack of acceptance of this man's behavior may show through and I don't wish to mislead her from God's path for her life in handling this fear-filled situation with a remorseless man.
I've seen such power on this Prayer/Concerns forum over the years, I know that anything is possible, from God doing a Paul thing and striking this man to his knees showing him what he has become and how he is behaving, to finding a safe passage for this woman into another situation away from him. In His mercy... I ask your prayers for her... and for my own healing towards men who abuse or batter.
Prayers on the way from Ohio Doc!!
Prayers sent for strength, wisdom, love, and to break the stronghold.
Prayers straight up
God Bless
Praying for this woman and the situation she is in. Lifting her up that God might make his plan for her life known. Will also pray that God will open this man's eyes and break his hardened heart.
Doc Nock, will pray also for your strength, resolve and witness. Asking that the Holy Spirit might work thru you that his words would be your words.
Thanks guys. I really appreciate the prayers for her and the sentiments for my own growing in Grace with these type things.
Sometimes I know God has used my lips to share his words, cause people come back to share something I said that they remembered and I had no idea I said it! Has to be Him using me.
Then other times, I find myself so angry at the perpetrator that I don't trust I'm opening myself to His will and use.
Thanks for both sets of prayers. Hers is more critical, but I do appreciate the ones for my growth too!
Peace.
Prayers on the way from Georgia.
Doc Noc
This is a particularly difficult situation for her and him. I fully appreciate and share your perspective and pray for wisdom on your part and safety for her and healing for him.
Doc Noc, I also pray for her that she will grasp what it is that keeps her from leaving an abusive and dangerous situation.
Pray for him that the Lord will use the loss of his position to bring him to the foot of the Cross and motivate him to change. Difficult, but nothing is impossible with God.
Thanks, Guys. After the holidays, I'll share this link...
Truly, Ours is an awesome God who can do miracles yet today in normal lives, but only if He is invited. So far, this man is unrepentetant (?)and sees nothing wrong with his verbal abuse, denegration, etc, etc...
This woman is a Godly person and truly lives in the Spirit. God will guide her in what is right and when. I've seen her through her own work in counseling and through her friends, and prayers here and elsewhere, come back to having a sense of herself outside of the devaluing she finds in her marriage. she is stronger and will know what to do when God tells her it is time.
I admire and praise her faith and endurance. I don't know I could continue in the face of what she has, but she took a vow and for that, she has my support and admiration.
Peace and prayers with all who struggle in relationships at this time of year, when everything seems to go topsy-turvey for so many folks, especially when there have been undercurrents of tension before.
May the Holy Spirit minister onto all and give them Peace and lead them to His will for their lives.