Knowledge and Understanding
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
(Proverbs 2:6-8)
Several years ago my husband took a new job. Immediately after he did someone left the company and my husband found himself with two new jobs for a time. They wanted to make some changes in the way things would be done and in the delegation of responsibilities among the staff and so they didn’t want to hire to replace the man who left before they decided exactly what the job would look like with reorganization.
There were whisperings in my ears all day as he worked 12 – 15 hours for many months, “If he loved you he wouldn’t do it.” “There must be some reason that he likes being at the office more than at home.” “If you were important to him he would make more of an effort to get home.” “It would serve him right if you were gone when he got home.”
Lies of Satan! I would hear these things and feel sorry for myself for a while. THEN, I would remember that the truth sets me free and remind myself of two sets of truths. The truths about my husband and the truths about my God.
My husband has always been very attentive and loving. He loves work but had never let it completely rule his life. He was willing to work hard but was not looking forward to the long hours any more than I was. He was making efforts to get home as soon as he could every day and has always been committed to our marriage, there was no reason to think that had changed. .
My God had promised to be my comfort and to provide peace if I would trust in Him. He had promised never to leave me nor forsake me. He was always there and, just as He had promised, His Holy Spirit was reminding me of what He had taught me about His character and His love for me. He would be my refuge.
It’s really easy to believe the lies. I blame Satan and I do think he revels in it when we fall for them but I also think that sometimes he can step back because other people will help him. We aren’t always that good to each other when we commiserate with someone who really needs the truth, especially if she’s a sister in the Lord. If my friends had said the things to me that I was thinking I may have felt justified in those feelings.
Feelings – whether supported by others or the ones we stew over all alone – are never a good indicator of what’s happening in our lives. Feelings are based on emotion, not truth. Our circumstances in life have to be looked at through the lens of the scripture, the Truth of God’s Word, so we know how to respond. It is the Lord who gives knowledge and understanding.
When we know who He is and what His character is like it’s easier to see who we ought to be. Romans 8:29 says that God has also predestined His chosen children to be conformed to the image of his Son, Jesus. When we live like Him then we are walking in integrity and can rely on God’s promise that He will be our shield and will watch over us (his saints). Then we will see things as we ought and not by what we “feel”.
Jesus is compassionate, loving, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Are you and I compassionate, loving, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love toward our husbands? The next time one of us gets tempted to think the worst about them, will we be willing to preach to our own hearts what God has given us in knowledge and understanding about our husbands and our God? It worked for me and my marriage – I pray it will if yours is there or ever gets there.
Memory Verses: John 8:31-32, So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”