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Love , Courtship and Marriage
Great Expectations
Jennifer Woodley
I ’ m not afraid to raise a complaint with God . David did it when he sought deliverance from his enemies . Jonah moaned when God gave him a commission to visit Ninevah . Habbakuk complained when he believed God was slow in bringing justice and Gideon did not hold back in letting his feelings be known to God while he was hiding from the Midianites . Now it was my turn .
Taking pent up frustration and anger to God , I let it all spill out like dirty water exploding from a murky spring . “ Lord I expected much more from my husband . How could he be so insensitive and uncaring ? How could he say the things he did , oblivious to how hurt I felt ? After all these years of marriage , I had greater expectations from him !”
And then the Lord gently reminded me of a guiding principle from John 15 .
“ Why do you expect more from your husband , Jennifer ? I do not .
Does he walk with me ? No . Is he filled with my Spirit ? No . Is he abiding in the True Vine ? No . But you , my daughter , are . Only those who abide in me and I in them , will bear much fruit , because apart from me you can do nothing . Lower your expectations ; your husband can not give you what he does not have . He will only ever bring to your marriage what he can humanly offer . And that will always have human limitations .
But you my dear daughter , abide in the True Vine , you are filled with my Spirit and can bring all my Divine grace , wisdom and love to your marriage . There is no limit to what you can offer because you are in me and I am in you .
My great expectations right now are for you alone , not your husband . Keep your eyes on your own growth that is all . It can be exponential in me . If you abide in me and my words abide in you , ask for whatever you wish , and it will be done for you .”
12 DOZ Magazine September 2017