“We would like to have the splendor of self-offering without the sacrifice of self-denial.” (G.K. Chesterton) Really think about that statement. Go over it several times until you get from it what God is saying to your heart.

This statement can be applied to so many circumstances including the war we’re battling in Iraq because there are many in the United States who want to remove from authority those who pose a threat to the safety of Americans and innocent people all over the world (including peace-loving Middle Easterners) but forget that this hasn’t been done in the blink of an eye in the past and most likely won’t be done in this circumstance either. The sacrifice it will take can’t be minimized or shortened by our impatience. And the same can be applied to the battle for improving the marital relationship.

The Bible talks repeatedly about denying ourselves— that there’s a price to pay for doing what we should. And sometimes the price we pay may be more than we would ever have expected or wanted to pay. But in the eternal scheme of things, God will redeem whatever sacrifices we’ve had to make in carrying out His will.

This is especially true in marriage. A good solid, loving relationship in marriage doesn’t come without continually “dying to self” and denying “selfism” for the betterment of that which God has called us to do. As we’ve said many times before, ” marriage isn’t about us—it’s about God.” It’s living day-by-day, making continual choices to live our lives together in such a way that others are drawn to Christ as a result.

It was Ghandi who once said, “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians because they’re so unlike their Christ.” What a sad testimony of Christians who are supposed to follow Christ in their words and in how they live out their lives—both publicly and privately—when no one but God is looking.

With that said, what can we do that will help us to get through the tough times in our marriage-times when we feel helpless and the situation may even look hopeless? We can P.U.S.H. Every Believer can P.U.S.H. —knowing that God isn’t surprised by the trial we’re facing. He’ll provide the stamina and the wisdom we need to get through any dilemma we face.

We want to share with you a story that was sent to us a long time ago by a friend. We don’t know the original author but what that person wrote is powerful. We hope you’ll read this together as a married couple and discuss the insights that come to mind. It reads:

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with bright light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This, the man did, day after day.

For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down with his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s weary mind: “You’ve been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You’re never going to move it” —thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

“Why kill myself over this?” he thought. I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that’ll be good enough.” And that’s just what he planned to do—until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. “Lord” he said, “I’ve labored long and hard in Your service, putting all my strength to do that which You’ve asked. Yet, after all this time, I haven’t even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What’s wrong? Why am I failing?”

The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength—which you’ve done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me, with all your strength, thinking that you’ve failed. But is that really so?”

“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled. Your back sinew is mighty. Your hands are callused from the constant pressure; and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you’ve grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you’ve done. I, my friend, will now move the rock.”

At times when we hear from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants. What God actually wants is just simple OBEDIENCE AND FAITH IN HIM. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it’s still God who moves the mountains.

P.U.S.H. means Pray Until Something Happens! When everything seems to go wrong, just P.U.S.H … When the job gets you down, just P.U.S.H… When people (including your spouse) don’t react the way you think they should, just P.U.S.H… When your money looks funny and the bills are due, just P.U.S.H… When people just don’t understand you, just P.U.S.H… PRAY, according to God’s will, UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!!!

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We pray that what you just read will make a positive difference in what you do next as individuals and as a married couple. As Henry Blackaby said, “When God speaks, what you do next reveals what you believe about God.” The question is, “Despite outward appearances in the trouble you’re facing, what do you believe God would have you do about it?Our love and prayers are with you as together we work to make our marriages the best they can be to the glory of God.God Bless!
Cindy and Steve Wright

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