Prayer Request (vanity)

[freeagle]

Please pray for the elders of my church who will meet Monday to determine what to do with my husband who has been living in Oregon for two years and sent me a letter (received Thursday) telling me that after two years of searching for what he needs, he realized that what he needs is not to be in a marital relationship with me.

It is a long story of how he got there and what has happened, but he is someone who has experienced 5 shifts in job plus 8 job losses in 15 years in his industry (stock market). He went out to Oregon to finally "make it" after his last job loss - we were to follow at the end of the school year. The firm failed, he "hit the wall" and wanted a separation. It has been a long road of reconciliation, but my husband has wanted it. We were to move there any time this past year or this summer. Or he was to move here. Our son continues to be depressed and failing 9th grade, is unmotivated and sad -at this point he hates his father and refuses to move there. My husband does not try and cannot "connect" with our son. He has abandoned us physically, emotionally and somewhat financially. Our daughter is doing well academically and socially at a Christian University, but is very depressed over this situation and has gained 50 pounds. Although my husband wanted us there, he cannot support us. We feel that he is either depressed or clinically depressed. He cannot get a good job and really lacks the confidence. This is a man who is smart, went to law school, was a leader in our church. He interacts with almost no one throughout his day. His hair is long, he is very overweight (didn't use to be) and wears sloppy clothes, hasn't seen the dentist in 2 1/2 years. I have a good job here, and special services are available for our son. Most importantly, Christ's church, the body of believers support us emotionally, prayerfully, spiritually, and financially if we need it.

I love my husband - he was a godly man at one point. I have walked with the Lord and tried to surrender everything. And now this. We are wounded, we are sad. We have a body of believers who will do what they can to bring my husband, Mitch, back to Jesus. They will support him with counseling, medical care, accountability partners, everything. The church and the elders are here - he is in Oregon. Pray for elders to discern God's leading, for my husband to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, to bind the hands of the enemy, for my children, and for me. It has been a long, long road. I do not believe in divorce. I grieve for my children. I hurt for my husband. God's grace has gotten us this far, I pray that he restores us.

Please lift us up. I have never posted before, but feel a kinship to fellow freepers.

[June Cleaver]

Consider it done!!

[drstevej]

As a pastor your words fill me with sadness. You and your family will be in my prayers. As an elder I will be praying for wisdom for your elders in responding to your husband and in ministering to you and your children.

May God comfort you and sustain you and your family.

Pastor Steve

[drstevej]

Prayer ping

[Genesis defender]

My prayers are with you, your husband, and your children. I know how you feel; trust me. When all seems down and out, remember that the Lord is a God of miracles. He has transformed countless sinners into saints, and He can do it for your marriage.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.
1Peter 4:12

P.S. You [will] have FReepmail.

[Genesis defender]

Prayer PING.

[Gamecock]

Will do!

[billbears]

You have my prayers for your husband that God open his heart, and for yourself and your son that He just give you strength. Added to the Daily Prayer Thread

[freeagle]

I thank the Lord for all of you. My son, Jeremy, has been reading your replies as well and his heart is warmed. When walking by faith has at times been a challenge for us, God has blessed us with your care and prayers. I am humbled by your prayers. Also, what a joy to be led to the daily prayer thread! What a strong weapon we have against the enemy with PRAYER!

[TotusTuus]

In this time of Holy Pascha, may I start a prayer with Christos Voskrese! (Christ is Risen!)

I am saddened to hear of your ordeal and how it is breaking your family apart. Truly, the Lord is asking you and your children to bear heavy crosses. Please let Jeremy know that the Resurrected Christ is the final determining factor in your pain. Your husband sounds depressed and despondent, and I offer him over to the Divine Mercy of Christ for healing and growth. It may be through your Faith that he finds his way back to Christ. Indeed, as you state it, you and your children suffer precisely because you Love him - just as Christ suffered for all the unrequited Love and Mercy He has for each of us (and the lukewarm responses He receives from us). Where sin abounds, Grace abounds in greater measure.

My prayers for you and your whole family! May God bless you and keep you!

[DoorGunner]

The church and the elders are here - he is in Oregon. Pray for elders to discern God's leading, for my husband to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, to bind the hands of the enemy, for my children, and for me.

I, and I believe many others, AGREE with you, in prayer.

Amen.

DG

p.s. If I may be so bold as to offer unsolicited advice. As someone who has been in a similar business, I think that he will not be able, and should not try, to get another job, in that same industry. There are bound to be horrible stresses, in that business. Aside from what one would normally expect, there have been, and will be, very strong pressure to be less than honest.

This whole set of job losses, etc. may be a way for God to get him out of that business. (It also, may not. Whenever someone begins to be fruitful, in the Lord, the devil is right there, with harder trials.) I am sure you already know all of that. From my own experience, may I humbly suggest, that you talk to the elders, to see if anyone knows of a job, (even temporary) no matter how lowly, which is within your husband's physical ability. He will NEED to be (and feel) successful, even if the job is humble. (I, personally, have worked at temporary help agencies like "Manpower," for many months, between jobs. Then, and I assume now, are very glad to get someone who shows up, on time, and works reasonably hard.) God bless, and have mercy on you, and your whole family.

[Ff--150]

Our prayers are with you.

[RnMomof7]

I will be praying for you . Keep in mind this ios a spiritual battle for we battle not against flesh and blood...

[xJones]

Dear Sister in Christ, it's obvious that you are a loving and very Christian wife. My heart goes out to you and your family. I don't know Mitch, but somehow I'd bet that he doesn't really want a divorce, he just doesn't know what to do anymore. A middle-aged man whose chosen field isn't working out would be very depressed. I pray that Mitch sees that it's not the end of the world to change careers in mid-life, a lot of us have had to do that, and there are many more cheerful fields than working in the stock market. Your husband is very intelligent, he can do it with maybe going back to school for a while.

Since you have a good, steady job in Illinois, it would be better for him to return there. And in the meantime, may I also humbly suggest with DoorGunner the option of temp work. I've done that too, and had some great experiences. And (very humbly) if you called around local temp agencies and did a little fishing, you might be surprised at temp offers that would be available for him. It is written, "Despise not the day of small beginnings", and temp work can be fun.

But regardless, I pray most earnestly for God's will to be revealed through the elders' conseling, and that you, Mitch, son and daughter be surrounded by angels and guided by God. His will be done.

Best regards

[InvisibleChurch]

prayer bump

[anniegetyourgun]

After decades in the wilderness, the mighty hand of God brought His people to their rest. If he can do that for the multitudes, he can bring your husband out of his spiritual wilderness. He is the All-Sufficient One, and I will call upon His name on behalf of your husband and the entire family.

[TrueBeliever9]

the elders of my church who will meet Monday to determine what to do with my husband

I pray that the elders will meet to FAST and SEEK THE LORD on how they can be used as vessels to help your husband get back on track. The LORD can and will heal him (spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially and financially)! The elders need to the seek the LORD on how they can serve HIM and help this lost sheep come back into the fold. May the do so in the Living Name of Y'shua.

[Salvation]

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.

[whipitgood]

Hello Freeeagle,
I write this in hopes that you AND your husband will see it. I write to him to encourage him to return to you and his family, where he is loved and wanted- you all DO assure him of this, right?
It is easy for a man to become discouraged if he finds himself unable to make enough money to support his family. He may be thinking that there is something wrong with himself. I have my own struggles along these lines. It helps to be able to realize that THE TIMES WE LIVE IN have a great deal to do with this feeling of opression. Many of the values we grew up with are constantly being trashed by people in our society and especially the media. (see 2 Peter 2:7-8) For myself, the time has come when I no longer regard myself as provider to my family. I allow God to provide for them and focus on the fact that it is He, not I, who is The Provider. I also have had to resign myself to the likelihood that I will have to work at whatever I can find to do to make money or otherwise do what I can. I have spent 30 years becoming skilled in my own profession but due to circumstances beyond my control I can not always make enough money to make ends meet. THERE ARE MANY, MANY IN THE SAME SITUATION. Forget about how things used to be. They may or may not ever go back to the way they were. Regardless of the circumstances it is necessary for a man to support his family by being present. If he can't get work to earn money he must still be there. He must allow his wife and children to see him suffer through the indignity of his situation, yet remain a man and a strong leader. THIS IS NOT AN EASY THING. Most of us have no example of a man having to do this as we grew up during times of relative prosperity in the US. Yet as sure as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph acted on their behalf, He will act on our behalf if we will only obey His word.
If your husband is a christian he will realize this. We live in almost unbelieveably difficult times of spiritual opression.Many who thought themselves safe from the ravages of the enemy fall victim to his deception. THIS DOES NOT MEAN GOD GIVES UP ON US! Neither should we give up on each other, or on ourselves. Extraordinary times and circumstances will test the character of every man (and woman) and you will find out where you are lacking in character. Use this opportunity to build your character by drawing close to God and those you love and respect. There is no other source for the strength we require to get through difficult times.
MAY GOD GRANT YOU BOTH THE WISDOM TO REALIZE THE TIMES WE LIVE IN AND ACT ACCORDINGLY

[EternalVigilance]

As a Christian who has been under unceasing attack on the family and financial fronts for the last three years, I can definitely empathize.

Your entire family has my prayers today.