You DID encourage someone today! Our son just cut us out 2 weeks ago, and I'm raw. In my heart I know that "all things work together for good," but this is a hard one to see how... Your words give me hope. Bless you and Happy Easter to you as well!

“But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.” – Isaiah 64:8.
If we never had a trial, we would never know the greatness and faithfulness of our God. It is in the valleys of life where God reveals himself as the master potter, molding us, removing the imperfections and creating that which he designed us to be.
I believe the length of our trial is determined by our willingness to stay focused on Jesus and our faith in him to carry us through. When we put self aside and give it totally to him, we will find the peace that passes all understanding. Then, God will be at his strongest and we will see our prayers answered.
The old hymn, "Leaning on Jesus" comes to mind.

giving, This is such an encouraging post. Thank you for sharing how God has been faithful to yourself and your DH. Every experience in life (sad or joyful) does change us. We pray it changes us for the better that we may be drawn closer to our Savior. When we walk through a similar journey as another we seek to be a help and blessing to them.

There is no one in the world not going through a trial (or will be). I often ask myself how I could do this life without the Lord. I come back to the same answer each time, I could not. Praise the Lord we don't have to. Great is His faithfulness.

You are so right, giving. My dh and I are also different (in many positive ways) after having experienced estrangement. As we know, estrangement has different stages, but when we come to the place where we can recite Romans 8:28, and truly understand how it applies to us, I believe God is pleased with us. And that applies to the other scriptures listed above and many others. This is when He can use us for His Glory.

Just as I have seen the Love and encouragement for others on this site, I now pray each of us can go out and extend that same love and encouragement to those around us who are lost and hurting. We know what Jesus has done for us...... especially remembering that, on this Good Friday. Blessing to everyone.

AMEN - always remember that Father knows how you feel. His own dear Son was estranged from Him on the cross by His own doing for our sake. Some may think that was no big deal as the time of separation was so short BUT Father and Son had NEVER been estranged EVER since eternity past and for eternity future. More than the physical and emotional pain of the cross, the psychological pain caused Him to cry out "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken (become estranged from) Me?" Jesus knew the hell of separation that we go through. That separation caused the ground to break apart, the temple curtain to rip in two, and the graves of righteous ones to open. Father estranged Himself from His only Son so we would never be estranged children from Him. What extreme measures He went to because of His great love for us! God understands, dear ones ~ He really does.

I definitely do feel that DH and I are changing and this post has been encouraging to continue in faith to get to the point that it is change for the better. Right now we still feel like a wrecking ball has tore up our whole life. I do have faith that God is rebuilding it in a better way for a purpose, so this has been encouraging. I know I am sure questioning things right now and wondering what I was like before.....this renovation is so painful but we are clinging to hope. And, it is encouraging and humbling to remember that our Heavenly Father knows exactly what we are going through. Draws me closer to Him especially today.

Jesus loved us each so much that He would have given His life if each of us were the only one who needed a Savior. Thank you for your matchless love to us on the cross of Calvary.

Luke2231, I'm so sorry for your pain. You are welcome here- we understand. "Raw" is an accurate description of estrangement- especially in the early stages. You will get through this. I do believe God will use this all for His good in His way in His timing.

We are broken because of this pain. And broken is good and useful in God's eyes.

Hugs.

We are changed as well. We look at things (life) quite differently now, are slower to anger, appreciate little things, turned more to faith. Those are the good ways we've changed.

Welcome to the group Luke2231, I'm sorry you're experiencing the estrangement those of us on this site know all too well. I pray your son reaches out to you very soon.

giving, thankyou for this post. I wonder the same thing sometimes. I do believe I've grown spiritually, and that I can now walk through any adversity with the Lord's help. Blessings to everyone this Easter....

Luke2231, We are here for you. God bless you.

Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
v. 32 "BUT I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Luke, you've picked excellent verses to hang onto. This is true for us and the EC.

You did encourage someone today, you encouraged several it seems. This year has changed us also, we are different, we see ourselves and others differently. We are coming through this better and more compassionate towards others because we realize more than as much as others don't know us or what we are going through, we don't know them and their struggles either. I think the Lord is using this situation to help mold us into something he can use and that helps me bear things a little better.

Happy Easter to you as well as everyone on PEACE.

Thank you to all who've welcomed me with your words of understanding!!! I cannot begin to tell you how my soul rests a little bit better just knowing there are others out there who completely comprehend all the emotions I'm experiencing. All the "what ifs" and "whys" and "should've's" that are rolling around in my head; you know!!! In some ways, it's encouraging, but in other ways, my heart breaks that there are so many of us in this situation. Thank you for your prayers and know you and your estranged ones are in my prayers as well. Happy Easter!

PS. My child has been a prodigal for a while already, and I'm standing on Luke 22:31 because JESUS prayed it, and because he says "when," not "if." That gives me great comfort and peace...

Thank you for your post. It really spoke to me. I have been feeling like Satan is REALLY picking on my family especially hard. You all know about the ES, and just recently my dear daughter's husband (whom we loved dearly) cheated on her, told her he doesn't love her anymore, and basically has shown zero remorse. None of us saw it coming. The question has bounced around my head, like so many of you, WHY? I have read Romans 8:28 over and over...."all things work to the good for those who love God and are called to His purpose". How could any of this be "for the good"? Well, I am like you, I do think my heart is softening and my attitude has changed. If you had told me ten years ago I would have an estranged son and a daughter going through a divorce I would have imagined no way could I bear up under the stress. Mind you NOBODY in my family has EVER been divorced. Not my mom and dad, nor my six brothers and sisters, nor any of their children. We were raised in the Bible belt, and took the kids to church, Bible school, choir, you name it. Well I guess I thought we were immune. But something miraculous has happened to me. I love God even more. I have pressed in even harder. And my daughter has as well. I am not as judgmental either. I pray for my lost son in law. I pray for my crazy daughter in law who hates me. I pray for the ES. And I see my own sins and shortcomings, but praise God I have been forgiven. I have also come to the conclusion that sometimes when bad things happen to Christians it can be one of three things....1. God is protecting me from something worse, 2. God has something better for me, or 3. God is trying to draw me nearer him. I do think in my case it is the latter. God bless us all.