Uncategorized

What About Men That Won’t Rise Up for God?

RefreshHer

Yesterday as I shared the wonder of what God did in our service, and rejoiced in the fact that there were many men who were willing to rise up for the Lord, I was very mindful of women that would read this blog and wonder why their husband couldn’t be numbered among that group. One dear reader left a comment about this very thing. You may have a husband that is saved, yet there is no real fruit in his life. You’d love for him to be the spiritual leader of your home, but that is not the case. What is a woman to do in this situation?

Let me say first of all, that too often we put expectations on our husband of all the things we think he should be. Years ago I heard an illustration that I’ve never forgotten because it truly pricked my own heart. Think about your husband standing in the middle of a drawn box. Each expectation you have of him adds a prison bar around that box. You think he should help with household chores – add a bar. He needs to have devotions with the family – a second bar is added. Surely he could bring home flowers or a gift from time to time – add another bar. You expect that he participate in the men’s day at church – another bar is added. By the time we finish with all we think he should be he is completely imprisoned in our expectations. Psalm 62:5 says, “My soul, wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from (of) Him.” Is there anything wrong with the things we desire for our husbands? No, those are all wonderful characteristics, but it has to be the Lord that puts those components in his heart. Psalm 127:1 “Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it…” When we, even sweetly nudge our husbands to be something or do something, we are doing the building and the Scripture says we are laboring in vain. In other words, we’re doing it for nothing!

To sum up, we must:
  1. Let God fill our expectations. Only then will we never be disappointed!

  2. Let the Lord build our house. Lay down the hammer. Even if you’re just gently tapping with it, you’re still trying to do the building. Lay it down.

As I encouraged the reader who left a comment yesterday, the best thing to do is pray Scripture for our husbands. Colossians 1:9-12 is a favorite of mine, but there are plenty of other wonderful passages that you could call out for your man *(see below). After praying you quietly live out a godly life before him while you love him with all your heart and being (I Peter 3:1-6) Then wait and watch God work in ways you never could. I’ve seen God do wonderful things in my own marriage, only after I stepped aside. Could I also encourage you not to compare your husband with other men while you’re waiting? Would you want to be compared to another woman who appears to have it all together? It’s unfair to imprison our husband with those kind of expectations. (II Corinthians 10:12) Perhaps right now the Lord is wanting to show you that “when you get to the place where there’s nothing left but God, you will find that He is enough.”

Take heart, Friend. God is even more concerned about your husband than you are. He will do the work in your husband’s life, and you will find that He will meet your expectations while you wait on Him.

*Other passages to pray: Psalm 1, II Thessalonians 1:11-12, Ephesians 3:13-19, Philippians 1:9-11, I Thessalonians 3:10-13

Unknown's avatar

Published by RefreshHer

Leave a comment