RESTORED Marriage Testimony: “Shouting Profanity Loud Enough for Our Neighbors to Hear!”

☊ RMT Audio

Kristen, how did your restoration actually begin?

It all started years ago, but everything intensified a little over three years ago. Several things happened in our lives, many blessings, but with these blessings came many problems. The problems that my husband had with his family came to the forefront and he became overwhelmed.

I didn't know how a Christian wife should behave and I was pressuring him to be someone he was not. So with all the problems that came up with his family, everything became very difficult between us, and the more pressure I put on him. With the birth of our son, things only got worse. We had different opinions about how to raise him, and that’s when my husband asked me to leave the house for the first time. It didn't happen right after the birth, but the day after my son turned two. And because I was very proud, when he asked me to leave—I left in a huff— with my son on my hip I slammed the door shouting profanity loud enough for our neighbors to hear!

How did God change your situation, Kristen, as you sought Him wholeheartedly? 

The Lord has been working on me for some time. Today I see that this has been happening even before I got married. As the problems in my marriage intensified, the Lord made this work that He had already started more perfect. Not that He has finished with me yet, because I know my Restoration Journey with Him will never end until I meet Him face-to-face. But due to His love and patience He has improved what He had started in me. He has helped me to be more patient, more understanding and to remain quiet in situations where I would always have had an opinion. Based on what I already shared, having a gentle and quiet spirit is not what I had when I was asked to leave our home.

What principles, from God's Word (or through our resources), Kristen, did the Lord teach you during this trial? 

The principles of a gentle and quiet spirit, the power and freedom from being submissive to all authority and talking only to God about everything that happens in my life. Never discussing anything with anyone but Him. These principles are not easy to follow, and I confess that I still stumble occasionally. But due only to His enormous grace and love, the Lord has helped me get back on track and trust Him to change me.

Another hugely important principle to be followed for restoration is to tithe to your storehouse. Since I've been following this one principle faithfully, I can see that’s when my journey changed course and what had previously been stolen from me I began receiving showers of blessings!

What were the most difficult times that God helped you through, Kristen?

A very difficult moment was when my earthly husband got sick and came to stay with us at the house where I was renting. Everything turned out so great. It also seemed to go perfectly, he was with us, with me and our son. So after a few weeks recovering, he said we should come back home, back to our house. And then, suddenly everything changed. He changed, he suddenly decided he wanted to go home before he was fully recovered and when I left, he told me that we could not come back home. Then the Lord reminded me of this verse in Proverbs 21:1 "The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." GOD turned my earthly husband towards me, then GOD turned it away. So I was able to dance and praise Him. My son and I put on dance music rejoicing because we knew God would win this battle for us and it had to be getting close just as it says in 2 Chronicles 20:17 “You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf...Do not fear or be dismayed...the Lord is with you.”

Kristen, what was the “turning point” of your restoration?  

The turning point is when I got a job near my home. This was quite unexpected, as my earthly husband asked me to get a job. I didn't want to, because besides having a boy of only three years old, I saw through the biblical principles that are in the book How God Can and Will Restore Your Marriage and in the book A Wise Woman, where it says that the woman should stay at home, helping her husband in the home, taking care of the home and children. Yet, He also says in His Word we are to submit to our husbands. So I spoke to my Heavenly Husband He told me to trust Him. If He didn’t want me to get a job I wouldn’t find one. If I did, it was His plan and His alone—not my earthly husband or mine trying to restore my marriage.

Tell us HOW it happened, Kristen? Did your husband just walk in the front door? Kristen, did you suspect or could you tell you were close to being restored? 

When the Lord thought it was time, that I was ready for restoration, not only did I get a job in something I never imagined doing, because it needed training I didn’t have. But what made it so beautiful is that I work very close to my house and can often work from home with a teenage babysitter who plays with my son while I work. Being home means I can take care of the house and utilize so much of what Erin teaches in workers@home.

Most interestingly, the Lord used it for good "Everything works together for good for those who love God and are called according to His Purpose" Romans 8:28. So, because of the times my job required me to be at work each morning, I talked to my earthly husband and explained that for me to accept, I’d need to stay at our house. I’d used this as the fleece, just lay it out before the Lord. I thought for sure he would not agree and I’d be able to refuse the job offer. But instead he insisted that I accept and move back home—the Lord did the rest!!! So I've been home for almost two months.

As so many restoration testimonies say, I too confess that it has not been easy, because as it was said in one of the courses, I still have a newborn on my hands (my earthly husband). But the Lord is dealing with me first and His work will be completed. What’s important is that we are home, as a family!

Would you recommend any of our resources in particular that helped you, Kristen?

Yes, I would recommend the books How God Can Restore Your Marriage, A Wise Woman, the courses (I'm still doing these despite my busy schedule). I decided to go back to the lessons, because each one has changed my way of thinking and how I feel about everything in my life. I also highly recommend the book Finding Life Abundant, which has given me a wonderful experience in finding my Heavenly Husband and without Him I would never be able to do what I’m doing now!

Would you be interested in helping encourage other women, Kristen? 

Yes, I am ready to help as many women need hope.

Either way, Kristen, what kind of encouragement would you like to leave women with, in conclusion?

Don't give up on your miracle. But mostly fall in love with the Word of God and the Lord as your Heavenly Husband. He is for life, and the more of Him, the more blessings He will add to you!

Find more encouragement and overcome the hurdle of #Gentle & Quiet Spirit by clicking on the #TAG linked to Restored Marriage Testimonies.