Faithfulness

Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will find favor and high regard
with God and people. Proverbs 3:3-4

Today is the anniversary of my first marriage. I’m grateful for God’s mercy and grace for after my spouse turned to drugs, even though I turned from my spouse. I was not loving in my heart and I was not faithful. I quickly ran to another. In that time,I never considered God or that He would eventually restore my marriage.

My actions created yet another obstacle in the success of our reconciliation, restoration and second marriage. My actions deeply hurt my husband. He walked into his addiction with a willingness, but then addiction took over. I walked into the arms of another and only had my own weakness to blame. I had not been steadfast in my love. I forsake faithfulness. I did not tie them around my neck or write them on my heart. I let the pain and hurt that he caused me wipe away what I thought we had and cling to someone else. That was not love. First Corinthians tells me love never fails. It was a hard lesson for me and I took time to work through once he was able to break the chains of addictions.

It has been 23 years now and I, we, have learned to hold fast to love and faithfulness. We declare it often. We talk about it. We have trust and God has brought favor and good success in both of our life and marriage.

Through the years that we struggled, God also taught me of his love and faithfulness. Many years I’ve walked with him alone. I had my husband on my side, but instead I was serving God in love and faithfulness alone. I prayed, I nagged, I asked. God was doing a work in me. God was showing me how to love and to be faithful to Him so that I could in turn give the same to my husband.

God’s timing is always perfect, if we will trust His process. He brings the good and the success. Sometimes He has to work things out in us, before we are ready to receive what favor and good success He has for us.

Lord, thank You for teaching me how to be steadfast in my love and faithfulness. Thank You for teaching me how not to forsake others when things get tough. I thank You for the work You have done in my life and for the restoration and healing You have brought in my marriage. Thank You for loving us and being faithful to us even when we were not.