LINKS

a testimony

I always thought a testimony was a story about how someone became a Christian but I now know it is story about how Jesus Christ changes your life, even if you already are a Christian.  In my case, he changed my life and miraculously saved my marriage.

After 16 years of marriage, my wife courageously chose to confront what, deep down, she already knew.  God then put it on my heart to stop lying and confess to past

unfaithfulness.  Even with my confession and repentance, she decided that a divorce was the only way she could deal with the pain. I was completely devastated.  My wife and 4 boys were my life.  The pain I was experiencing was overwhelming and for months, I couldn't even take a deep breath.  My wife was moving on with her life, and our family was torn apart. 

At this point, I allowed God to take control of my life.  However, every single emotion was very intense.  Guilt, sorrow, anger and bitterness flooded my spirit.  I desperately turned to God, and began to read my Bible every day and pray unceasingly for my marriage to be restored.  The daily fellowship with God allowed me to know Jesus in a very personal way and to have a relationship like the one I had never known before.  To realize that He meets all my needs and works all things together for good had a new and real meaning to me. During this time, several people suggested that I meet Jeff & Cheryl because they were a couple who had a marriage ministry and could walk alongside me to encourage me and help me stand for my marriage. I called them and even though they didn't know me, they both made themselves available almost immediately and generously gave their time and patiently listened to my aching heart.  My wife was supposed to go with me to our first meeting with them, but backed out at the last minute.  The Scruggs’ assured me that God can do miracles and that they would be praying for us. They desired to see my marriage restored and began walking alongside me on this journey. They would meet with me on a regular basis to lift me up and encourage me not to give up.

Out of the blue, a couple of months later, my wife called and asked me to meet with them.  I could not believe it, and what I realized is that God was beginning to answer my prayers!  The meeting was cordial, but when it was over, I was a bit deflated because my wife still continued on the path towards divorce.  I just kept praying………….

I then decided, with or without my wife, I was going to take the class that the Scruggs’ taught called Sacred Marriage. I was devastated that I was taking the class alone, but knew that God wanted to teach me so much about marriage and about Him. I was signed up and ready to go! Then I was hit by a complete surprise! After a year of separation (and 7 months of brutal legal/divorce proceedings) and with no forewarning, my wife called and asked to come and see me.  To make a long story short, God had been working on her heart to put our family back together.  In her second courageous move, she gave me a second chance. What an awesome God! Humbly I again saw my prayers being answered right before my eyes, and God started us on an incredible journey of reconciliation.  We began attending the Sacred Marriage class together!

Jeff and Cheryl played an important role in our reunion, and their Sacred Marriage class was a stabilizing factor in those first crucial months of learning to trust each other again.  Their ministry has a special place in my heart.

Stacy Standridge