Hit a dent in the road

I'd appreciate any prayers.

I've hit a dent in the road, which is causing me some grief right now.

I cannot have a family with my spouse while he remains in his false religion because I refuse to raise our children in that religion and in a house of such spiritual warfare/unequally yoked marriage. His religious family are very controlling and have been the ones to encourage him to keep going with his religion. His parents were always so kind towards me but when I came back to God last year (after backsliding) and was open with them about my faith, they have since persecuted me a few times.

After some issues in our marriage I saw God working recently and noticed small changes in my husband but as the scripture says, Satan often comes along and destroys that seed before it has time to grow. His family are controlling. Things go well in our marriage, then they swoop in and mess everything up. This has happened again recently and he is more adamant than ever to remain in his religion and is even giving "spiritual" advice to friends who I cannot witness to as a result of his wrong advice and their accepting of it... because our beliefs contradict. When we have others over for dinner I cannot do my work because he shares his heresies with them and the person just gets confused.

My husband is still adamant about remaining in his religion and asks me to accept it because he has made his decision and it seems final. Really don't know what to say. I worry for him because he has received so much knowledge of the truth and God says that punishment is worse for those that have the knowledge of it and reject it...also if they stumble others with these heresies it's not good.

I'm tired of waiting for God to work in this situation. Yes, I admit I have no patience and I just don't understand why I'm being left to live my life this way.

So I guess this means I will never have children. In the past when we were having issues his dad was encouraging him to leave me, saying that I would not be a great mother because I don't do things their way and his dad really believes that he has raised the perfect family in the perfect way, that they are perfect parents. I'm not south american like them. I also have different beliefs to them. During another difficult time in our marriage, when he told his parents he was wanting out, they were phoning constantly trying to get my husband to south america for a short vacation, when they should've let us be during our difficult time. They obsessively called to find out his decision on the vacation as they were eager to book him a flight and whisk him away.

Despite all they have done I've been very forgiving towards them but they abuse your kindness and take advantage of it.

Not looking forward to Christmas... the family will travel here and engage in their religious traditions, again pulling him into all that and destroying that seed that began to grow a bit in my husband... another way to stumble him and our marriage when things were starting to come along ok.

The family is very worldly and there is some hatred among some members towards each other for which they put on false smiles. For example, my husband's sister-in-law (when speaking negatively about his parents) was bold enough to say "they'll be dead soon" which stunned me... but yet she invited them here for Christmas this year.

It's always 2 steps forward and then many steps back when his family come into the scene again. Fed up with this yo-yo life.

Father thank you for opening her husbands eyes and his family to you and your truth
In Jesus name

Satan does indeed come along to spoil and deceive. And I've found that sometimes you just have to let idiots be idiots, and not let their idiocity towards you get you down. And the most disarming response is to just silently smile like you know something they don't. Because you do!

God will open the door if one of them will listen. Otherwise don't beat your head aginst the wall with them. Let them spout till they are sated then graciously change the subject.

Katy, my prayers and hope in Jesus continue for you and your husband.
In hope in Jesus, I see not just your husbands eyes being opened, but His family saved as well.
What a gift from Jesus, that He asks that you will serve Him for your husband's salvation, but his family as well.
My heart and prayers are with you, for all comfort, streangth and His love needed, as this task will seem lonely at times, but know you are never alone as Jesus is with you and as He does His work through you.
Also, you know that we all here are with you in Jesus duing this battle of faith.

Huge hugs and God bless
pickles

I will pray for you as God leads me...

Katy my friend, Pray for strength and guidance, i will do the same for you.



Peace and Blessings in the name of Yahvah God and Yahshua the Messiah.

You have strong faith. Know that what you believe is correct. It will strengthen your whole life. You will be okay no matter what happens.

I pray God strengthens you in everything you do. I pray He gives you the wisdom to know what you need to do to accomplish His will. I pray He blesses your husband that his mind and heart are opened.
In Jesus Name,

Sounds so much like my past hun...But I will tell you this..PRAY!! when you pray hun about the situation , ur releasing it to God and letting him carry it. My ex mother in law was alot like urs..And I remember I couldnt take it any longer so i got at the feet of Jesus and worshipped him . I said " Lord did you not say you would not give us more then we can bear?". I prayed that scripture and Gods promises for a month straight . then I started seeing God move..believe it or not ..MY mother in law changed... its like she relized I was a child of God.. and who is she to come up against Gods creation his beloved? I always try to remember no matter how mad Im at someone..that person is Gods will and desire. I tried to be as God said blameless in everything I did..so she couldnt complain or find fault ..and if she did find fault it was her mind creating fabrications and so forth..but didnt worry as God exposes all dark motives and brings them into the LIGHT!! My ex and his family seen her for what she was.. Also sometimes we aint waiting on God..HES WAITING ON US...sometimes in these situations God uses them to mold and shape who we are..I know its tough hun..But praise him in everything ..seek him even more so..and when you do u will see ur less stressed beacuse you will be so in awe of him you may forget the problems at hand. SEEK HIM AND HIS KINGDOM AND ALL THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO THEE.. Im praying for you hun ...blessings

Same thing happened to David. II Sam. 6:23. Lord, make this have a better end. (I Cor. 7:14)

Thank you brothers and sisters for your prayers and thoughts.

Despite difficulties with the family I still welcome them into our home and I forgive them. I always want to be a good witness when I'm around them because we need to shine the light to the world and follow in Jesus' footsteps. I want them to see what I have that they don't have, that they may want it too. I know they see it in the way I'm forgiving and loving towards them despite what they say and do.

I do worry about them all. Some of his family and very old and reality is they could die any time. I don't want them to die without being saved. I worry for his parents, if they die not knowing the truth. Their English is not good and I only speak a little Spanish, so communication is somewhat difficult. His parents are old and could pass away at any time and I pray God saves them before they do. My husband had surgery recently after a sudden health emergency and I was praying for comfort because I feared he may not wake up. I waited in the observation room and prayed several times. I knew if he didn't wake up he would be going to that place of darkness I trusted God throughout and things were fine. Praise God!

I truly believe that when my husband is eventually saved it will be a dramatic conversion. I just know that his family will end up saved as a result of seeing my husband's new life in Christ and testimony. Also, many of his friends that are in his same religion and come to him for 'spiritual' advice.. he will finally be a good witness to them once he has the truth. I know his salvation will result in a lot of people being saved. Maybe this is why Satan keeps causing havoc in our lives... he knows my husband will be witnessing to all the South Americans... the majority of which are Catholic.

I know there's a reason I met my husband, despite the fact we were originally living 4,000 miles apart. He almost became a priest and then he met me so that idea went out the window. Even though I was backsliding, God made sure I was not married in that church. I was kept away from it by God intervening. I see it now, how God worked in that situation despite my backsliding, He kept us from marrying there... He kept me from being bound by that church's rules and regulations. Praise God! Even when I was backsliding He still worked things out!

I need to pray for patience. I want him to be saved so badly. I know amazing, amazing things are going to happen as a result. I cannot wait!!!

I wonder whether God is wanting me to go more forward in the faith first, so I'm not left behind? I have a feeling my husband will race on as a result of his dramatic conversion and he's a strong leader type of individual. Maybe God is waiting for me to grow more? Can you imagine what it would be like when we're eventually equally yoked? Not just for our marriage but how we will both be helping to lead others to Christ. I know I'm racing on ahead, but am I being prepared for something big to happen? Is God setting me up for something? What could it be, if this is the case? Wife of a future pastor or leader?

Thanks again for all the prayers and words of encouragement

Hugs!!

Katy, please keep in mind that just being nice isn't always the best witness. Jesus took a whip to the money changers in the temple, and called the Pharisees "vipers", "hypocrites" and "snakes" (read Matthew chapter 23); He didn't mince words. Not only is there nothing wrong with telling your in-laws that they have no business poking their noses in your marriage trying to make their son leave you, and that you're not going to put up with it, but I've actually seen people be more interested in being Christians themselves because they saw the Christians stand up for themselves. Calling a spade a spade isn't sin; it's actually very attention-getting and helpful, and your husband's parents are being so rude, they need to be called out on it angrily. The verse "be ye angry and sin not; let not the sun go down on your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26) is a good one. Note that the verse done't say not to be angry; it says not to let the anger cause you to sin. If you got mad at them and burned their house down, it'd be wrong, but not letting them shove you around and be rude to you is different; it's actually godly and the right thing to do.

Katy, your post today told me so much more. My wife and I worked with Hispanic Pentecostals for several years, and we know their pain and the battles they fight every day against the old church. It is religion plus culture. We watched as these Pentecostal pastors forbade their daughter to marry anyone English or anyone Hispanic of whom they did not approve. Their daughter went into the army to escape them rather than pursue her Masters in psychology and be with American culture close to her parents. But she still married the guy they picked for her. God's battle is against ingrained culture as well as religion. But my experience also tells me that He will succeed, because of what has happened already in the Spanish speaking world. You can see it everywhere as the traditional church loses ground to the greater success of those cultures who will let God speak to them anew, and not trust culture. The pastor we worked for had been healed of cancer just a year before, so God is moving, and my spirit witnesses, based on my experience, that what you say will happen pretty much as you see it. So hang in there, you've got a long time to see God change things for you yet.

My wife used to worry about the same thing with me (not being able to keep up). It never happened. We had our ministry for 31 years; now that she died, I have mine. God knows what he is doing. Enjoy the ride.

Is he like a mormon or something? ya well marriage it tough. very challenging. That's just a fact of life. here's a suggestion. Find a new place on the other side of the country, figure out jobs, find a good God fearing church, and where you'd live there and stuff. And pack up and move. Tell him, you come and you get back to basics, and get away from any bad influences or I'm leaving. If it's that bad that you can't live with it then you should get out of your comfort zone. Something I wish I wold have done a long time ago. Dear lord please show her the way. Amen.