Love and War

There has been stress in our house.

Life (and emotions) are complex when a major issue like finances is on the line and individuals are trying to wade through the muck of the matter. John's and my communication has some gaps and broken places. We are not always "nice" people. We come into the day with some bad patterns, with some insecurities, with the truth, and with buttons that seem too often pressed lately.

We have a Friend. We also have an enemy. Yeah, "the truth" was listed in the middle in that sentence above. It is sometimes surrounded by other things that are more likely to tug at us and get our attention.

Yesterday I didn't post. It wasn't because God wasn't providing, but because I was wrestling with the issues, and because where He was working was hidden until quite late in the day.

Sometimes the provision is tangible, sometimes it is in one of those other areas that is a little harder to tick off on a list of the events as you see them. Yesterday's was kind of in that category.

I had written John an email last week that spelled out five things that I saw and described as "foundational stones" for us to get into place so we can move forward well. Three were spiritual, one was practical, one was relational.

He had addressed two of the items over the weekend, but seemed resistant to another of them. And I wasn't a happy camper. I left the house yesterday morning irritated at his "insensitivity" and seeming unwillingness. I am sure he was battling his own frustrations of the situation (and with me). I am aware that this season hits him in an entirely different way than it does me. He carries more of the immediate pressures of it.

But last night before dinner we read a section of scripture that he had chosen and he later shared some information that revealed he was tending to one of the key issues.

John and Stasi Eldredge have recently put out a book entitled, "Love and War." It is about marriage. This morning I was reading my email and opened the daily devotional I suscribe to from John's site: http://www.ransomedheart.com/ [You can find (and sign up for) these readings by going to his page, clicking on the "mission" button at the top, then clicking on the box on the right side of the page that says "daily readings." They are each an excerpt from one of his books. ] There was also a box at the bottom of the page that lead me to info (and their individual blogs) about their "Love and War" tour. I am reminded that all of us are under some kind of regular effort of the enemy to undermine us. His work is always to steal, kill, and destroy. And we need to fight for each other, pray for each other, help each other by cheering each other on and by sometimes (because we love each other) asking each other the hard questions.

By the end of yesterday I saw that God was also on the move. He was working in places I hadn't yet seen. Again, I need to trust. I also need to pray, listen, and communicate.

Today I am going to ask you to pray for us because I believe your prayers make a difference. Will you pray that John and I will love and learn well? Will you pray that we will care for each other these days and be attentive to the quiet nudges that will guide us in how to do that? Will you pray for protection from the enemy, for help from our Friend to allow us to come through this closer rather than more distant and wounded? For we are in a battle.

There is love, and there is war. I want the Good Guy's side to win this one in spades.

Photo by Lia Hickinbotham