Hidden Decay

Ephesians 5:21, 31, 33 “And the Spirit makes it possible to submit humbly to one another out of respect for the Anointed. ‘And this is the reason a man leaves his father and his mother and is united with his wife; the two come together as one flesh.’ Nevertheless, each husband is to love and protect his own wife as if she were his very heart, and each wife is to respect her own husband.”

In over twenty years in the ministry, I’ve talked with many married couples in trouble. Each pair have their own unique circumstances, but there are common threads that run throughout as well.

Fairytale wedding... erosion of intimacy over time... spouses become roommates not marital partners... “grass is greener being single” thoughts... distrust... arguments over petty things... control issues...

all eroding into divorce.

And nobody knows it’s happening. Like a tooth with a cavity in the back of your mouth. Looks healthy on the outside... but the hidden decay rots away at the integrity of what once made it strong… Both sides hurt and the blinded world never sees it. A maiden name re-surfaces. Wedding ring grooves appear where a golden band was once placed.

I do becomes I used to.

How do spouses turn it around? It’s not easy… but it happens… four life-changing transformations take place which make what seem irreparable into something whole again. Let’s quickly look at all 4.

1) Commit together 



The first and most important thing couples do is give their lives to Christ. He is the centerpiece of successful marriages. 

Many will say... “I’m a Christian and he/she is not... how can I make them choose Christ?” Fact is... you can’t. They have to make that decision on their own. Simply live out your faith in front of them...and never quit praying that the Holy Spirit would help them see the importance of a relationship with Jesus. If you are a Christ-follower... the tendency is to let your non-believing spouse drag you away from God. Be the exception. Stand strong in your faith and provide the same grace and mercy toward your spouse as God is doing in you.

2) Pray together



Successful marriages commit to grow spiritually together. Having the same quiet times, reading scripture together, coming to church regularly all matter in the restoration of Godly marriage. 

If you are in a struggling marriage and you are both Christ-followers... commit to spending some time together each day with God. Pray for each other... lift each other up... journal about your successes and failures... God wants to say something to both of you through your time with Him...be sure to listen.

3) Serve together 



There’s nothing like giving time to God each week together. Getting involved in a ministry...helping people..is extremely fulfilling and helps each person in the marriage grow. By pouring into the lives of others, we gain perspective on our own problems and see blessings where we once saw barriers.

4) Obey together



Obedience is not a natural behavior. Often, we do things our own way and things eventually fall apart.

Once a couple accepts Christ as Lord... things change. God blesses... but not automatically. People’s behaviors have to move from selfish to selfless... God-absent to God-honoring... us-centered to Christ-centered. And when this transformation happens, and God is honored in obedience, blessings come... and the purpose of the marriage shifts in many ways...

No longer just raising kids... but raising Godly future husbands and wives
No longer putting my spouse on a pedestal... but Christ.
No longer defending against divorce... but moving forward in beautiful marriage.


If you are reading this... and your marriage is in trouble.. God wants to remind you of something.

It isn’t over.

Is there work to do? Will it be difficult? Does it seem like he doesn’t care anymore? Has she withdrawn from you?

Don’t quit. The road back may seem long... but it’s well-traveled. You won’t be alone.

God still restores. People still change. Healing still takes place.

I’m praying for you... take the first step today.

Tempted to Stop

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”   1 Cor. 10:12-13

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.”   -  Thomas Merton

     Congratulations!  You’ve done what many know they need but not everybody does... you’ve made time for God today.  Each time you feel the nudge to check out the devotional page here on Facebook... I’m sure you think of many other things you could be doing.  We all know it’s good for us, but sometimes we forget or get sidetracked.  It’s a commitment.  A sacrifice of time and energy.... and you’re worth it.  But all is not easy.  When we dive in to growing in Christ, the enemy ups his attempts to make us quit.  

     That’s where you will face perhaps the biggest foe that has ever challenged you: temptation.  There will be many many things in the coming months and years that will do their best to throw you off your commitment to study God’s word and grow.  In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul writes about those very things.  He says that the temptations we face, while common to everyone, are not unbeatable.  In fact, he says that God will “not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.”  I love that!  No matter what temptation the enemy throws our way to stop.. God will give us “a way out so that [we] can endure”  The devil puts up stop signs, detours, and red lights... and Jesus reminds us that we have His GPS.  He simply re-routes us around the obstacles and keeps us on the road to our God-potential.  

      So the question is... what tempts you to quit?  Does it seem like there’s no hope?  Are you struggling to think you’re worthy enough for God to use you?  Have you tried this type of thing before but think there’s no way you’ll stay with it?  I have some encouragement for you.  We’ve all felt that way from time to time.  Today’s verse tells us that when we have these feelings, God will give us the wisdom, the strength, and the nudge to keep going and escape the temptation.  He wants us to persevere because He loves us so very much.  I’ll be praying that when you feel tempted to stop...or believe what others say about you... or doubt that you can do it... or hear the limiting lies of the devil... that you would remember that you aren’t alone.  God is with you and your Potential Church family is on the journey alongside you.  Let’s go after this together! 

Keep Walking

It didn’t matter what the weather was in Detroit… financially-challenged James Robertson did what he did every other day.  He hit the alarm clock and went to work.  But James’ story was a little bit different.   You see, James didn’t have a car.  No problem… take the bus, right?  Nope.  No bus routes were even close.   So Mr. Robertson did the unthinkable…. he walked.  Every single day… regardless of the weather… James Robertson traveled the 21 miles round trip on foot.   For 10 years, James did whatever it took to get him to his job… in fact, he had perfect attendance!

One day, financial executive Blake Pollack had seen enough.  He had passed James every day on his way into the city and made the decision to do something to help him.  He started picking him up and taking him to his job each day.  Pollack shared the story with a friend of his, Evan Leedy… and together they started a GoFundMe page on Robertson’s behalf.  Hoping to raise the $5000 needed for a used car… the result surpassed even their wildest dreams.  They didn’t raise five thousand to help James… they raised $300,000!  Just recently they presented the car of James Robertson’s dreams to him… a 2015 Ford Taurus.   James said he loved that car because it was “plain on the outside and tough on the inside…just like him.”  The rest of the raised money was given to Robertson as a reward for his decade of diligence and great work ethic.  

Total strangers reaching out to reward the faithful diligence of someone they didn’t know.  

Now take a minute today and imagine your situation.  You may feel like James Robertson.  You’ve been working hard… plugging away… staying faithful when those around you have quit.  You spend your weekends serving and your nights making ends meet at a second job.  Your month seems to last longer than your money… your children are draining your patience and your health isn’t what it used to be.  Yet you keep on walking.  You keep getting it done.   You won’t accept not having something as an excuse to not get where you need to get in life.  

If that’s you… keep going.  God’s got you.

Keep honoring God with your resources… keep sacrificing temporary comfort for long-term gain.  Keep pouring out love and forgiveness to others when they haven’t earned it or deserve it.  

Keep going.  Regardless of the weather… keep going.  I can promise you this… someone is noticing your efforts.  Someone has been driving by and sees you climbing yet another mountain on your way to your destiny.  Someone has been walking by you and taking notes.  Someone sees the tears of frustration and lifts you up.   Someone you already may know. 

It’s God.

God knows.  He sees you.  He will provide a way.   He will provide reward.  He will make things right.

You just can’t give up.  

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9)

James Robertson walked to work for 10 long years.  That’s 54,600 miles before his situation changed… 

Every day wondering if it was worth it.  Each footstep crying out for him to turn back.  But he kept on.   It’s time for you to keep going too.  You may be facing the blizzard of divorce… or the flood of financial instability…. or the hailstorm of bad relationships… or the blistering heat of loneliness and isolation.   

Keep on.  One foot in front of the other.  

God is sending a driver to pick you up soon.  

His blessings are on the way.  

Breakthrough is coming.  

You just can’t quit.   

Walk on friend.  Walk on.  For someday the journey will shorten but the character built by the trials will last forever.