CURRENT THEME: New hope for 2013 (Share your feedback with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or share your testimony at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

DAY 10: NEW HOPE ... FOR A BROKEN MARRIAGE

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Several readers told me over the past few days about their struggle in their marriages. Here is Corlea’s testimony that might give you new hope if you are struggling too:

Corlea: “Where I was sitting on our back porch, a feeling of helplessness overwhelmed me when I heard my husband stepping into the home. I knew he had stopped at the bar before coming home. Up to that point I tried everything in my power to save our marriage. It didn’t work. My heart ached as I realized that my marriage was probably over.

For years, my husband and I led busy lives juggling work, kids and chores. We started to grow apart. As a sense of loneliness continued to fill me, I desperately tried to control and manipulate everything and everyone around me to make myself feel better. It pushed my husband even further away.

We travelled together to Europe for a trip some called our second honeymoon. While we walked around in the romantic cities, we however had nothing to say to each other. It was a painful time. Back in South Africa my husband moved out and said he wanted a divorce. He later came back home but everything stayed the same between us.

After the night on the porch my husband moved out again. I was alone. With tears flowing down my cheeks one night, I sat on my bed in my room and spoke to God. I told Him that I refuse to let the enemy get the upper hand in our marriage. I did not want to raise my children in a broken home, but I did not have any plan anymore to fix our marriage. In that moment it felt as if God revealed to me that my battle was not against flesh and blood, but against Satan and his demons – and they hate marriages and wanted to destroy ours. I had to pick up spiritual weapons to fight against the enemy and I also remind myself that Jesus had already won on the cross.

I started reading books on the theme of spiritual warfare. Someone also gave me Stormie Omartian's book, The Power of a praying wife which helped a lot. For the first time in my life I realized that I could pray for a wall of fire for protection of our marriage. I could also ask God to change what tasted sweet to bitter for my husband, that He would cause my husband to long after Him with no explanation and that He would send the right people over my husband’s path to speak into his life.

My husband and I didn’t see each other often, but when we did I at times felt like my prayers did not have any effect. Still I kept on praying. One particular day I listened to the song by Michael W. Smith with the chorus: "One day every knee will bow and one day every tongue will confess that You are God.” I wanted to believe that it was a promise from God to me for my husband, but I was not sure. I did not tell anyone about it, but continued to listen to the song over and over, praying for him. Shortly hereafter our pastor prayed for me during a Sunday service. After he prayed, he said: “I have a feeling that God has given you a song. He says that you should hold onto the words of the song.” I was overwhelmed with emotion. God truly heard my prayers. I started praying with more faith than ever.

Six months after my husband moved out, he came back home again and said that he wanted us to rebuild our marriage. My only condition was that we do it with God this time. He agreed and we started a new path together. During this time, he told me about people God has sent over his path that spoke into his life. What previously tasted sweet, suddenly had a bitter taste and he could not explain his desire to suddenly spend time with God. I could not contain my joy as I realized that while it did not feel like my prayers had power, the enemy in effect tried to discourage me to pray, but God heard each one of them and He answered them!

Today, years later we are still happily married. My husband is again my best friend. He protects me physically and emotionally, and I have no desire to control or manipulate him anymore. Where I was a feminist before and wanted to assert my rights, I now follow God’s instructions to a marriage. It is the only way to guarantee a happy marriage. If I honor and respect my husband, he will have a desire to protect me. And the more he protects me, the less I want to manipulate or control him. All honor to God. He restored our broken marriage, protected our children in the process and we now know He truly still does miracles! "

Corlea is right. Nothing is impossible to God. In Jeremiah 32:27 we read: “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” Can I encourage you to continue to trust Him for whatever breakthrough you need? He will never leave you or forsake you! God bless.

Father God, thank You for still doing miracles today. I bring (name area where you need help) before You and ask for a miracle in my life. Give me wisdom and strengthen my faith to know that nothing is impossible to You. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

• See picture of Corlea and her husband, Charl on the social network, Fbook’s STORIES VAN HOOP page.

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a radio DJ, freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense, Wysheid-oordenkings uit Spreuke and Hoop in tye van nood-oordenkings uit Psalms.