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.

[Tribune7]

prayer bump

[drstevej]

Still praying. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

You have my prayers, my love, cyber hugs for you and your children, and the certainty that you are NOT ALONE in your situation. God is with you, He will never fail you or forsake you. God is with your children. And, God is with your beloved husband. He is very blessed to have you.

[editor-surveyor]

" Keep in mind this ios a spiritual battle for we battle not against flesh and blood..."

Amen! That cannot be said too often. We're always ready to do it on our own, but we cannot; he is there for us and we must call on him.

No job too tough for prayer.

[CARepubGal]

Prayers for you and your family.

[jboot]

Praying commenced. May God bless and deliver you!

[freeagle]

I participated in a Night of Praise and Worship last night with time devoted to prayer. My song has lost some of its trill, but there is still a song in my heart.

Dear brothers and sisters, I long for God's peace in my son's soul, in my husband's soul, in my daughter's soul, in my soul. I want my song to be filled with HOPE. I find hope in hearts like yours and those from my local body of Christ. I am hanging on the prayers you lift us with when we lose hope.

In Christ, Sally

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Prayers needed here. Do you have a prayer ping list?

Prayers continue for you and yours today. May God surround each of you and fill you with the sure presence of His Holy Spirit, bringing messages of Hope to your souls. He is the God of all Hope and the God of all Comfort. Jesus died that we might have HOPE. He is the HOPE of the world. He is your hope and your children's hope and your husband's Hope. You can rest the full weight of your HOPE on HIS FAITHFULNESS. It is difficult in the darkness to see HIs Light - but thanks be to God, He does not EVER stop shining the Light of His light and life for us, even in our darkest times.

[Havoc]

You're on my list.

[freeagle]

Dear friends,

The elders have met and determined that the state of mind, physical, emotional and spiritual health of myself and my children is their urgent concern. They will provide steps for us to take to "move on" in a healthy way so that we can live - divorce is not a step in the process at this point. The immediate concern is our well being.

At the same time they will draft a letter to my husband. I was interviewed again to get some of the history of my husband. The past two years have been so dark that no one can remember the man before. On our behalf the church will ask my husband to respond to them as to what his steps are concerning his family. They will impress upon him the responsibility he has in a grace filled way. They will let him know that they are prepared to take care of him in reuniting the family. This has not been proposed to him in the past. Unfortunately, from his behavior they are assuming that for now in my husband's mind, that the marriage - at the same time believing that God can restore him. They do not know what their next steps will be. They must wait and see what his response is.

Please pray for the content of the letter - the wording. Please pray that my husband's heart is prepared to receive it and that he will repent. Please pray for me - this is discouraging. I know my husband. He has withdrawn - I was hoping for a brother to physically meet with him and confront him in love. Our friend, who is composing the letter on behalf of the elders, said that with God's prodding - not necessarily an event - he will get on an airplane and fly out there. He just isn't feeling God's prodding this afternoon. The elders did not recommend that anyone else plan a visit at this point.

I will go to the Marriage Restoration site and participate and attend the Divorce Care at our church - a ministry that works people toward restoration. Lift us up. I do not know how to separate from my husband.

Sally

[anniegetyourgun]

So pleased you have what sound like very caring and spiritually mature elders. (You'd think that would be a no-brainer since it is biblical that such be selected for that important office, but I'm afraid it's not always that way.) Will keep up my prayer for you, hubby, and entire family. You've been in my prayers today already as Mondays are my days to pray for 'those in trouble.'

[drstevej]

Good report, your elders are to be commended. Will pray that the Holy Spirit will use their intervention in your husband's life. Continued blessings to you and your family.

[Tribune7]

prayer bump

[Genesis defender]

Greetings, ma'am. That is good news about your church elders' actions. We here will continue to lift you and your family's names up in prayer. If possible, please let your husband know that hundreds of people who have never met him are earnestly praying for him.

And we urge you brethren...encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.
1Thessalonians 5:14 (NASB)

[CARepubGal]

Great news!

[xJones]

1 Pet. 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you".

Phil. 4:6-7 "Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Prayers continuing.

[DreamWeaver]

During this time of Holy Pascha, I too will 1st say " Voistinu Voskrese". "Indeed He has risen!" ...... I too will keep you, your husband and your family in my prayers.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Thanks for this report. Prayers continue - esp that one of the elders will go and meet with your husband according to God's best will and plan.

[freeagle]

Gosh, it's been a rollercoaster of a week. My husband has not contacted me, but continues to call and speak briefly (1-2 minutes) to both children but has ignored discussing the situation he created or anything of depth with them. The kids are really confused. My daughter wants her old dad back and wonders how he became a bum. He has not contacted me in any way. I did leave him a voicemail asking that we just keep talking.

Through wise and loving counsel and prayer from fellow freepers, brothers and sisters at church, pastors and elders, missionary friends around the world, we have been lifted up to our loving God. One friend said that there was a part of him that wanted to "nail" my husband for everything he's done to me. That made me feel good - people care for me. My kids and I have been living in this limbo state for oh so long. The elders are going to sit down and counsel me financially. Please continue to pray for the elders and someone to come alongside my husband and that my husband cooperates with the Holy Spirit.


I have been walking with the Lord and hoping that my change and dependence on the Lord would attract my husband back to his Lord. I realize that my walk is mine - that God changes my husband's heart. I have come to realize that he must be changed by God first. My love for my husband must be unconditional. It is sooooooooooo hard to do.

A praise is that the house I rent is "mine for as long as I want to stay in it." The rent is cheap. Our landlady, who went to be with the Lord 6 weeks ago, always cared for us and has provided for us after her death. God is good. My son and daughter are relieved. We can keep our 2 dogs and 2 cats - a source of joy (the pets really belong to my husband).

Thank you friends. You have stood in the gap and are the evidence of God's grace when I am shakey. Pray for me that I stay committed to God's promise, to stay "in" the marriage, to live in the Word daily.