Can God trust you and your spouse?

On the classic 70s comedy, “Sanford and Son,” the character, Fred Sanford, once remarked, “A family that sicks together, sticks together.” It drew laughter from the audience as was the case with many of his shenanigans. His words, of course, were a comedic spin on the faith-based saying, “A family that prays together stays together.” In the television scene, Sanford wasn’t feeling well, and it was his way of telling his son, Lamont, that if he shared in his father’s suffering, it would be a sign of a solid family.

As foolish as it sounds, there’s truth to the concept. When a family endures tough times together (with God as their anchor), they do tend to come out stronger than ever.

Many get caught up in the misconception that suffering is outlandish to God’s plan for our lives. Not so. As a matter of fact, to the Christian worldview, suffering is unavoidable. It’s a product of the fall of the first family (Adam and Eve); it is a consequence of human sin against God. Suffering is in our lives because we are living in a shattered humanity. Some sufferings are due to our immoral and dishonest choices, but others are due simply to the world being in a fallen spiritual, moral and mental state. The latter should drive us to develop a longing for a world redeemed and freed from sin, a world wherein God will one day come again to establish the new heaven, and new earth, where He will reign forever.

“Then I (John) saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (vanished), and there is no longer any sea” (Revelation 21:1, AMP).

As married couples, when we are burdened beyond our strength, we must not become cynical. Instead, we should allow our faith in God and our love for one another to make us better. Husbands and wives must see suffering (that is not due to sin or disobedience to God) as a necessary discipline to build our covenant relationships. Each of us should seek to become a better person and to live out a better witness for God first, and then for our spouses as well. God is looking for couples He can trust to bond even closer to one another and to Him when they find themselves in troubled circumstances.

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9, AMP). Interestingly, God tests us through the circumstances that we face to see what is in our hearts. And when we pass these tests, He puts His seal of approval on us and is then able to delegate us with additional opportunities He has planned for us.

“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel [that tells the good news of salvation through faith in Christ], so we speak, not as [if we were trying] to please people [to gain power and popularity], but to please God who examines our hearts [expecting our best]” (1 Thessalonians 2:4, AMP).

God tested Joseph’s character until the time came for Him to fulfill his childhood dream. God tested Abraham’s faith when He told him to go and sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. God tested Jacob’s fortitude after He showed him Rachel was his wife. So, guess what? We are not exempted from God testing us. As we look back on our own lives, we can see more clearly the tests of God that have come at critical times. They have come unannounced, except for the convicting presence of the Holy Spirit, and they began from the time of our decision to be a follower of Jesus.

Of Moses, God said, “… he is the one I trust” (Numbers 12.7).

Most of us spend a lot of time trying to figure out whether God is trustworthy. But this verse changes the game significantly. The question is never whether we can trust God. The question is can God trust us? Trust is dependability – a deep confidence in someone. In life, we tend to trust people who are reliable and consistent in good times and in bad. Ever think that maybe God is looking for same? For richer, for poorer. In sickness, in health. Can God trust us?

Drs. Michael & Kendra Holmes are the pastors of Deliverance Revival Church in Warner Robins, Ga., the founders of Royalty Relationship Coaching, LLC, the authors of the 31-day devotional, “Cross-Fire: Igniting Passionate, Purposeful, and Powerful Relationships” and the founders of the faith-based newspaper, The Royal Trumpet. W.A.R. is an acronym for “We Are Royalty,” ™ the official slogan of Royalty Relationship Coaching, LLC. Visit the website at www.RoyaltyRelationshipCoaching.com.

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