Connections

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The young mother of four was in tears as she talked on the phone with me. Her Christian husband was in crisis and was now struggling.

“Pam, I—we—have always wanted a strong Christian marriage and family. We try so hard; I don’t want our marriage to be one that fails. How come Christian marriages fall apart?”

My answer was simple: “Often Christian couples don’t do what you just did. They don’t call for help. They isolate. They quit going to church. They quit socializing with strong Christian couples because they feel inadequate. Or they keep thinking somehow it will magically get better, but they pull away from God, from each other, from family, and from friends who could help.

When you pull away, the lies grow, and the truth fades into a whisper. Isolation kills love. Fight to stay connected, and fight to help your husband stay connected.” Luke 6:19 gives a picture: “The people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all” (NIV). People long for connection that heals.

I worked with this young mom to create an emergency connection plan, one for her and one for her husband. “As you look back on your life, who are the older godly Christian women from whom you have learned, who strengthen you? Call them and ask if you can call once a day for at least two weeks. Then ask your husband if he’ll contact some Christian men and do the same thing. You need a support net under you since life has you both feeling like you are on the high wire. With more connections in the net, you’ll be more likely to travel across the wire well, and even if you or your husband falls, plenty of people will be there to catch you.”

Are you walking on an emotional tightrope? Then give an old trusted friend a call and have her pray for you.