Failure of my marriage was sealed when I continued to have a secret and habitual sin of pornography. This eventually led to me being adulterous. I was always too proud to seek God to help me, even when my wife confronted me. I shifted the blame from myself and denied it every time I was caught.

Mislukking van my huwelik was geseel toe ek voort gegaan het om ‘n geheime habituele sonde van pornografie te hê. Dit het uiteindelik daartoe gelei dat ek owerspelig was. Ek was altyd te trots om God te soek om my te help, selfs toe my vrou my konfronteer het. Ek het die blaam van myself af geskuif en dit ontken elke keer wat ek gevang was.

The first time I sought help from a Christian counselor, my wife and I were going through a divorce. The Christian counselor told me that God had allowed me to be exposed not to destroy my marriage, but to restore it and to save my life. After our conversation I went online, typed “restored marriages" into a search engine, and found Restore Ministries (RMI). It was very confronting to confess what I had done when I filled out my forms. However, I was so tired of cover-ups and lies that I confessed. I wanted to change. I received my marriage evaluation back from RMI, which really lifted my spirit. The RMI books were very difficult to accept because I saw my failures even more clearly with every page.

Die eerste keer wat ek die hulp van ‘n Christelike berader uitgesoek het, was my vrou en ek besig om deur ‘n egskeiding te gaan. Die Christelike berader het vir my gesê dat God my toegelaat het om bloot gestel te word en nie om my huwelik te vernietig nie, maar om dit te herstel en my lewe te red. Na ons gesprek het ek aanlyn gegaan “herstelde huwelike” ingetik, en Herstel Ministries (RMI) gevind. Dit was baie konfronterend om te bieg oor wat ek gdoen het toe ek my vorms ingevul het . Nietemin, ek was so moeg van wegsteek en leuns dat ek gebieg het. Ek wou verander. Ek het my huweliks evaluasie terug van RMI af ontvang, wat regtig my gees opgelig het. Die RMI boeke was baie moeilik om te aanvaar omdat ek my tekortkominge selfs meer duidelik met elke bladsy gesien het.

Yet that’s when God began changing me. I got into my bible like I had never before in my life. I started to pray twice a day for about 30 minutes, and just praising God before my prayers. I sang my favourite hymns and found myself listening to nothing but Praise, Worship and Gospel music. I started making immediate changes, and found a new church and bible study group. I became so changed that even I could not believe it was me anymore! I received even more help from a Christian ministry in dealing with my desire to look at porn. I didn’t stop there; I kept going. I got amazing support at my new church. God is so amazing because only He could have directed me to this church. God became my sunrise and sunset.

Tog dit is toe God begin het om my te verander. Ek het in my Bybel ingegaan soos wat ek nog nooit tevore in my lewe het nie. Ek het begin om te bid vir omtrent 30 minute elke dag, en voor my gebede net vir God geloof. Ek het my gunsteling lofsange gesing en gevind dat ek na niks anders behalwe lofmusiek, aanbiddings musiek en evangelie musiek geluister het nie. Ek het begin om onmiddellike verandering aan te bring, ek het ‘n nuwe kerk en ‘n nuwe studie groep gevind. Ek het so verander dat selfs ek kon nie glo dat dit ek was nie! Ek het meer hulp van ‘n Christelike bediening af ontvang om af te reken met my begeerte om na pornografie te kyk. Dit het nie daar gestop nie, ek het aangehou. Ek het ongelooflike ondersteuning by my nuwe kerk gekry. God is so ongelooflik omdat net Hy kon my na hierdie kerk aangewys het. God het my sonsopkoms en my sonsondergang geword.

During my trials, God taught me two big lessons; having faith and staying consecrated. So many people, even close friends and family, told me to give up, move on, and find another girlfriend. I told one friend that I was standing for my marriage and he called me "delusional". All through this my wife continued to be really hostile towards me. There were no signs of progress at all. It seemed as if there was a large army assembled against my marriage being restored, but I kept praying and making changes.  In the midst of all of this, I learned to keep thinking "But God is greater than all these things” and to carry the word of God in my heart for all these situations

Gedurende my beproewings, het God my twee groot lesse geleer; om geloof te hê en ingewy te bly. So baie mense, selfs intieme vriende en familie, het vir my gesê om op te gee, aan te beweeg, en ‘n ander meisie te vind. Ek het vir een vriend gesê dat ek vir my huwelik staan en hy het my “misleidend” genoem. Deur dit alles het my vrou voort gegaan om regtig vyandig teenoor my te wees. Daar was glad geen tekens van vooruitgang nie. Dit het gelyk asof daar ‘n groot weermag teen my huweliks herstel saamgestel is, maar ek het aanhou bid en veranderinge aangebring. Ten midde van dit alles, het ek geleer om te aanhou dink “Maar God is groter as al hierdie dinge” en om die Woord van God in my hart te dra vir al hierdie situasies.

The most difficult times that God helped me through was dealing with my wife. Sometimes, as if my wife was not hostile enough, she would be even more "over the top hostile". Her words crushed me. I sometimes felt that my wife would make seeing our children really hard for me. I kept turning the other cheek and remembering that Jesus stood falsely accused by the Pharisees in front of Pilate yet said nothing. His Love kept silent. So I stayed silent.

Die mees moeilikste tye waardeur God my gehelp het was om my  vrou te hanteer. Somtyds,  asof  my vrou nie vyandig genoeg was nie, sou sy selfs meer “oorbodig vyandig wees”. Haar woorde het my verpletter. Ek het somtyds gevoel dat my vrou dit regtig moeilik vir my sou maak om ons kinders te sien. Ek het aanhou die ander wang draai en onthou dat Jesus valslik beskuldig deur die Farisieërs voor Pilates gestaan het en niks gesê het nie. Sy Liefde het stil gebly. So ek het stil gebly.

Because of my wife’s hostility towards me, I did not suspect that my restoration was close. There were no signs of marriage restoration until the very end. In fact, the opposite was true. Dealings with my wife got worse for me and it seemed that she became even more hostile. She kept confessing how much hatred she had for me and how much we would "never ever" be together. Her friend, at the time, from her church was only too happy to serve me with divorce papers.

Deur my vrou se vyandigheid teenoor my, het ek nie vermoed dat my herstel naby was nie. Daar was geen tekens van huweliks herstel tot aan die einde nie. Die waarheid is, die teenoorgestelde was waar. Om my vrou te hanteer het erger vir my geraak en dit het gelyk asof sy selfs meer vyandig geword het. Sy het die heeltyd verklaar oor hoeveel haat sy vir my gehad het en hoe ons “nooit ooit” saam sou wees nie. Haar vriend, destyds, van haar kerk was al te bly om my met egskeidings papiere te bedien.

I continued to pray even after I signed divorce papers. I did everything in faith and trusted that the divorce would not pass. I planned to have "marriage restoration party" and did not plan how we would split the little we had. I was living with non-Christian roommates at the time, and they openly confessed that they thought I had "cracked".

Ek het voort gegaan om te bid nadat ek die egskeidings papiere geteken het. Ek het alles in geloof gedoen en vertrou dat die egskeiding nie sou deurgaan nie. Ek het beplan om ‘n “huweliks herstel partytjie” te hê en nie beplan hoe ons die bietjie wat ons gehad het sou verdeel nie. Ek het destyds saam nie-Christelike kamermaats gebly, en hulle het openlik verklaar dat hulle gedink het dat ek ‘in die bol getik was”.

Suddenly, out of the blue, my wife asked how to restore a marriage when I was picking up the children one Sunday morning. I told her a bit of what I read about in the RMI books and other resources I had been using. She was skeptical, but the hostility ended that very day. She called me the next day and we started spending time together again. My wife just started speaking to me suddenly. At that point; picking up and dropping off children had descended into a " wordless transaction" but from that day we spoke, the phone calls became more frequent, and she started asking me to her house for dinner in order to spend time with her and help her with the children.

Skielik, uit die bloute uit toe ek een Sondag oggend die kinders opgetel het, het  my vrou my gevra hoe om ‘n huwelik te herstel. Ek het vir haar ‘n bietjie vertel van wat ek in die RMI boeke gelees het en die ander hulpbronne wat ek besig was om te gebruik. Sy was skepties, maar die vyandskap het daardie dag geeindig. Sy het my die volgende dag geskakel en ons het begin om weer tyd saam te spandeer. My vrou het net ewe skielik weer met my begin praat. Op daardie stadium; om kinders op te tel en af te laai het neergedaal in ‘n “woordelose transaksie” maar van die dag wat ons gepraat het, het die telefoon oproepe meer gereeld geword, en sy het my na haar huis toe genooi vir aandete om tyd saam haar te spandeer en met die kinders te help.

At this point, I am interested in helping to encourage other men, and encourage them to never stop seeking the Lord. Please don’t ever stop praying, worshipping or seeking the Lord in His word. Because I stopped and fell back into adultery, I now watch out for that devil who is roaring and looking for prey . My wife and I are still together, and we have more community at church to help us get better at our marriage.

Op hierdie stadium, is ek geïnteresseerd om te help om ander mans aan te moedig, en hulle aan te moedig om nooit op te hou om die Here uit te soek nie. Moet nooit ophou bid, aanbid of die Here in  Sy Woord uit te soek nie. Omdat ek gestop het het ek terug geval in owerspel, ek kyk nou uit vir daardie duiwel wat op soek is na iemand  om te verslind. My vrou en ek is nog steeds saam, en ons het meer gemeenskap by die kerk om ons te help om beter te word in ons huwelik.  

My men’s bible study group, which I still attend, carried me and prayed with me during that time. I have podcasts in the car and have just replaced all my secular habits with Godly ones. So, don’t let your guard down for a moment, and have a men's Christian community even when your marriage is restored.

My mans bybelstudie groep, wat ek nog steeds bywoon, het my gedra en gedurende daardie tyd saam my gebid. Ek het podcasts in die kar en het het my sekulêre gewoontes met Goddelikes vervang. So moet nie vir ‘n oomblik slap lê nie, en kry ‘n mans Christelike gemeenskap selfs wanneer jou huwelik herstel is.

~ Tad Herstel in Australia

 

Here is his wife’s Testimony that she submitted a few months prior that I hope will also encourage you. Remember, she came and asked me for the RYM book.

Hier is sy vrou se Getuienis wat sy ‘n paar maande gelede ingedien het wat ek hoop jou ook sal aanmoedig. Onthou, sy het gekom en my vir die HJH boek gevra.

Husband Gives Wife our RYM Book
Man Gee Vrou ons HJH Boek

Ministry Note: The testimony you are about to read is different than most, because it was Odelia’s husband who found RMI and began following the principles. Unlike a woman, a man can share things as her spiritual leader, if asked, like him sharing the RYM book with her. Hopefully you will be able to glean many wonderful insights, without making the mistake of doing things that are reserved for men seeking restoration.

Bediening Nota: Die getuienis wat jy op die punt staan om te lees is anders as meeste, omdat dit Odelia se man was wat RMI gevind het en begin het om die beginsels te volg. Anders as ‘n vrou, kan ‘n man dinge deel as haar geestelike leier, wanneer gevra, soos hy wat die HJH boek met haar gedeel het. Hopelik sal jy baie wonderlike insigte leer, sonder om die fout te begaan om dinge te doen wat gereserveerd is vir mans wat herstel nastreef.

I am a born-again Christian. In the Lord’s mercy for me, He saved me from my life riddled with drugs, alcohol, and crime for the sake of myself and my three beautiful children. I have been clean and sober for many years, all praises to God. However, I still had a lot of issues I was trying to heal from, which affected my marriage. My husband and I are of different cultures. We had a tumultuous relationship filled with anger, resentment, and bitterness. We fought and argued constantly. Neither I nor my husband felt any peace in our home. My husband didn’t feel loved by me, so he turned to other options. One day I discovered that he was surfing the web looking for other women and on dating sites. I was devastated, but continued to remain faithful to him hoping that things would change.

Ek is ‘n wedergebore Christen. In die Here se genade vir my, het Hy my gered van my lewe vol dwelms, alkohol, en misdaad om my en my drie pragtige kinders se onthalwe. Ek is vir baie jare skoon en nugter, alle lof aan God. Nietemin, ek het nog steeds baie kwessies gehad waarvan ek probeer het om van te genees, wat my huwelik affekteer het. My man en ek is van verskillende kulture. Ons het ‘n ontstuimige verhoudinng gehad gevul met woede, gegriefdheid, en bitterheid. Ons het aanhoudend baklei en gestry. Nie ek of my man kon enige vrede in ons huis vind nie. My man het nie deur my geliefd gevoel nie, toe keer hy na ander opsies. Een dag het ek ontdek dat hy op die internet gegaan het en vir ander vrouens gesoek het op dating webwerwe. Ek was verpletter, maar het voort gegaan om getrou te bly aan hom in die hoop dat dinge sou verander.

Things did change in our marriage – for the worse, and eventually we separated. I remained intimate with my husband during our separation, but soon discovered that he was also sinking deeper into sin. When I found out, I wanted to die. I made the mistake of uncovering my husband’s nakedness to everyone I knew including my church. I sought counseling from my church, who advised me to move on with my life.

Dinge het verander in ons huwelik - ten ergste, en uiteindelik is ons uitmekaar. Ek het intiem met my man gebly gedurende ons vervreming, maar het gou ontdek dat hy ook in dieper sonde ingesink het. Toe ek uitvind, wou ek doodgaan. Ek het die fout begaan om my man se naaktheid aan almal wat ek geken het insluitende my kerk bloot te stel. Ek het berading by my kerk gesoek, wat my adviseer het om met my lewe aan te gaan.

Although I did plan to move on with my life, I believed my husband was the one for life – until death do us part, yet my feelings of hate for him were very strong. As God tells us in His Word “Let all bitterness, anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away with malice.” (Ephesians 4:31 NIV). I was not able to put my bitterness away and allow God to heal and work within me. Although conflicted, I still began divorce proceedings, happily to get rid of my husband. I even cut myself free from him, mentally, during one of my church’s prayer meetings. There was no way that I was going to continue to be married to someone who I thought was the devil.

Alhoewel ek beplan het om met my lewe aan te gaan, het ek geglo dat my man die een vir die res van my lewe was - tot die dood ons skei, tog was my gevoelens vir hom baie sterk. Soos God ons in Sy Woord sê  “Moet nooit verbitterd of opvlieënd wees of woedend word nie; moenie vloek of skel nie; moet niks doen wat sleg is nie.” (Efesiërs 4:31 Afr 83). Ek was nie in staat om my bitterheid weg te sit en God toe te laat om my te genees en binne my te werk nie. Alhoewel ek strydig was, het ek nog steeds ‘n egskeiding aanhalig gemaak, bly om van my man ontslae te raak. Ek het myself selfs vry van hom afgesny, geestelik, gedurende een van my gebeds vergaderings. Daar was geen manier wat ek voort sou gaan om met iemand getroud te wees wie ek gedink het die duiwel was nie. 

While I believed my husband was the devil, the Lord was changing him for the better. My husband began fasting and praying for our marriage, and eventually became a member of the Encouraging Men website. He confessed to me one day that he was standing for our marriage. He even gave me a copy of How God Can and Will Restore Your Marriage! I thought, how bold was he and how dare he! I was livid, and told him not to bother praying for such a crazy thing, as it wasn't going to happen. A few weeks after my husband revealed this to me, I found myself deep in worship at a woman's revival conference, and having the Word and testimonies of others poured into me. It was at this conference that God spoke to my heart saying 'I can even fix your marriage.' I was devastated. I couldn't understand why God would want me back with my husband after the way he treated and disrespected me. I shared this revelation with some trusted friends, and my pastors. My pastors were furious. They even drove to my house to tell me that what I heard was not of God. They never once advised me to SG in my marriage situation. These were supposed to be men of God! I didn't know what to do, and grew more confused. I felt alone and empty inside, and often had suicidal thoughts.

Terwyl ek geglo het dat my man die duiwel was, was die Here besig om hom beter te maak. My man het begin vas en bid vir ons huwelik, en het uiteindelik ‘n lid van die Bemoedigende Man webwerf geword. Hy het een dag gebieg dat hy vir ons huwelik staan. Hy het selfs vir my ‘n afskrif gegee van Hoe God Jou Huwelik Kan en Sal Herstel ! Ek het gedink, hoe voor op die wa en hoe durf hy! Ek was woedend, ek het vir hom gesê om nie te pla om vir so gek ding te bid nie, en dat dit nie gaan gebeur nie. ‘n Paar weke nadat my man dit aan my openbaar het, het ek myself in diep aanbidding by ‘n vroue herlewing konsert gevind, en die Woord en getuienissse van ander was oor my uitgegiet. Dit was by hierdie konsert wat die Here met my hart gepraat het en gesê het ‘Ek kan selfs jou huwelik reg maak.’  Ek was verpletterd. Ek kon nie verstaan waarom God my terug by my man wou hê na die manier wat hy my behandel en disrespekteer het nie. Ek het hierdie openbaring met sommige van my getroue vriendinne, en pastore gedeel. My pastore was woedend. Hulle het selfs na my huis toe gery en vir my gesê dat wat ek gehoor het was nie van God af nie. Hulle het my nie een keer adviseer om GN in my huweliks situasie nie. Hulle was veronderstel om mans van God te wees! Ek het nie geweet wat om te doen nie, en het meer verward geraak. Ek het alleen en leeg binne gevoel, en het dikwels selfmoord gedagtes gehad.

Rather than seeking God for the answers and to fill my void, I turned to another man, and became involved in an adulterous relationship. I knew I was in disobedience to God, but stayed in the relationship. This relationship did not fill the void that I had; it only made me feel worse. I felt like dying, and to make matters worse, I became pregnant by the other man (OM). My pastors were informed and were mortified. They disowned me, and wanted nothing to do with me. However, I still remained in the relationship. All the while, God was using this awful situation for good, and began convicting the OM.

Eerder as om God te soek vir antwoorde en my leemte te vul, het ek na ‘n ander man gekeer, ek het by ‘n owerspelige verhouding betrokke geraak. Ek het geweet ek was in ongehoorsaamheid aan God, maar het in die verhouding gebly. Die verhouding het nie die leemte wat ek gehad het gevul nie; dit het my net erger laat voel. Ek het gevoel asof ek doodgaan, en om dinge te vererger, het ek swanger geraak by die ander man (AM). My pastore was in kennis gestel en was vererg. Hulle het my onterf, en wou niks met my te doen gehad het nie. Nietemin, ek het nog steeds in die verhouding gebly. Die heeltyd, was God besig om hierdie aaklige situasie ten goede te gebruik, en het begin om die AM te oortuig.  

God showed the OM in a dream that I still loved my husband, and that He was going to restore both our marriages. When the OM shared this with me, I cried out to the Lord and then to my husband. My husband was not only forgiving, but he also promised to be a good father for the baby. We began talking more and spending time together.  When I became sick a few weeks later, the OM disappeared, but it was my husband who stood by me taking me to my doctor's appointments. Shortly afterwards, I began bleeding and had to have emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. It was a painful reminder of my sins. When everyone else abandoned me, the Lord allowed my husband to stay by my side, taking me to the hospital for the surgery and taking care of me after it.  My husband was not the devil I remembered him to be, but a Godly man.  My husband was constantly talking about God and bible scriptures, and even listening to Christian music. Before this time, he hated listening to my Christian music!  Proverbs 21:1 tells us that "the king's heart is like channels of water in the Lord's hand; He turns it wherever He wishes". I was seeing this verse come to pass firsthand. My husband had changed so much, which was only the work of God!

God het vir die AM in ‘n droom gewys dat ek nog steeds lief was vir my man, en dat hy albei ons huwelike sou herstel. Toe die AM dit met my gedeel het, het ek na die Here toe uitgeroep en toe na my man toe. My man was nie net vergewensgesind nie, maar het ook belowe om ‘n goeie pa vir die baba te wees. Ons het begin om meer te praat en tyd saam te spandeer. Toe ek ‘n paar weke later siek word, het die AM verdwyn, maar dit was my man wat by my gestaan het en my na dokters afsprake geneem het. Kort daarna, het ek begin bloei en moes noodchirurgie hê vir ‘n ektopiese swangerskap. Dit was ‘n pynlike herinnering aan my sonde. Toe almal my verlaat het, het die Here toegelaat dat my man aan my sy bly, my na die hospitaal neem vir die chirurgie en daarna na my te kyk. My man was nie die duiwel wat ek onthou het hy was nie, maar ‘n Goddelike man. My man het aanhoudend gepraat oor God en bybel verse, en het sefs na my Christelike musiek geluister! Spreuke 21:1 sê vir ons dat “Die wil van die koning staan onder die gesag van die Here; soos 'n stroom water lei Hy dit soos Hy verkies.” Ek het eersthands gesien hoe hierdie vers waar word. My man het so baie verander, wat net die werk van God was!

It was the changing of my husband that God used to soften my heart. As my heart continued to soften, my husband and I grew closer together, and to Christ. We ultimately reconciled and began living for Christ as the center of our lives.  We recently renewed our wedding vows. Everyone thought I was crazy for taking my husband back. My pastors are completely against it, and were more concerned with the image of their church than for the salvation of me and my husband or what was best for our family. They saw me as a distraction and completely disowned me. It was through God's grace and mercy alone, however that saved me and restored my marriage. When I couldn't let go of the images of my husband sinning, God stepped in and helped me. No one else has the power to do such things - not pastors, husband, family or friends. Not even me. All those times I cried out to God and prayed for Him to make my husband a Godly man on fire for Him did not go unheard.

Dit was die verandering van my man wat God gebruik het om my hart te versag. Soos wat my hart voort gegaan het om te versag, het my man en ek nader aan mekaar gegroei, en aan Christus. Ons het uitermatig versoen en vir Christus begin lewe as die middelpunt van ons lewens. Ons het onlangs ons trou beloftes hernu. Almal het gedink ek was gek om my man terug te vat. My pastore is heeltemal daarteen gekant, en was meer bekommerd oor die beeld van hulle kerk as vir die redding van ek en my man of wat beste was vir ons familie. Hulle het my as ‘n afleiding beskou en het my heeltemal onterf. Dit was deur God se gawes en genade alleen, wat my gered het en my huwelik herstel het. Toe ek nie kon laat gaan van die beelde van my man wat sonde doen nie, het God ingetree en my gehelp. Niemand anders het die krag om sulke dinge te doen nie - nie pastore, mans, familie of vriende nie. Selfs nie ek nie. Al daardie kere wat ek na God toe uitgeroep het en Hom gevra het om van my man ‘n Goddelike man te maak aan die brand vir Hom het nie ongehoord gegaan nie.

I thank God for His mercy and grace. I thank God for using my husband to bring me to this ministry, and for giving me the RYM book. When I came here and filled out a Marriage Evaluation, I hadn’t read it. It took just a month from filling out the evaluation until I filled out this restored marriage testimony. I have already recommended the ministry's resources to my friends because of how quickly they worked and helped me. One friend in particular just received the final divorce papers. So I am helping her navigate through RMI's website and encouraging her. I am believing for her marriage to be restored too, even though the divorce went through. God is a God of restoration. Only He can fix it!

Ek bedank God vir Sy genade en goederentierenheid.  Ek bedank God dat Hy my man gebruik het om my na hierdie bediening te bring, en vir my die HJH boek te gee. Toe ek hiernatoe gekom het en ‘n Huweliks Evaluasie igevul het, het ek dit nie gelees nie. Dit het net ‘n maand geneem vanaf ek die evaluasie ingevul het tot ek die herstel huweliks getuienis ingevul het. Ek het alreeds die bediening se hulpbronne vir my vriende aanbeveel as gevolg van hoe gou hulle gewerk het en my gehelp het. Een vriendin in besonder het die finale egskeidings papiere gekry. So ek is besig om haar te help om deur RMI se webwerf te navigeer en haar aan te moedig. Ek glo daarin dat haar huwelik ook herstel sal word, alhoewel die egskeiding deur gegaan het. God is ‘n God van herstel. Net Hy kan dit regmaak!

Don't give up my friends! I am believing with you that God is going to perform a miracle in your situation. Draw near to Him just as I am learning to do. It is a process, but only God can heal and restore. God loves each one of you and cares for you so much. He doesn't want to see us sorrowful and desires for us to have an intimate relationship with Him.  Two of my favorite Bible verses that God gave to me are Psalm 56:8: (NKJV) "You number my wanderings and collect my tears in a bottle. Are they not in Your book?" and Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV) "Those who sow in tears shall reap joy in the morning. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless come again rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him."  All the sowing through the tears, hurt and pain you have and are suffering will be rewarded if you just seek God first. No my dear sisters, God has not forgotten about you. Cry out to Him in your darkest hour. Offer up sacrificial praises unto Him. Spend time with Him in your joyful moments, as well. He is waiting for you!

Moet nie opgee nie vriendinne! Ek glo saam jou dat God ‘n wonderwerk in jou situasie gaan bewerkstellig. Nader Hom net soos wat ek besig is om te doen. Dit is ‘n proses, maar net God kan genees en herstel. God is lief vir ieder en elk van ons en gee soveel vir jou om. Hy wil ons nie treurig sien nie en begeer om ‘n intieme verhouding met ons te hê. Twee van my gunsteling Bybelverse wat God vir my gegee het is Psalms 56:9 Afr. 83. “My ellende het nie ongemerk by U verbygegaan nie, U het op my trane gelet. In u boek staan hulle opgeteken” en Psalms 126:5-6 (Afr. 83) “Wie met trane saai, sal die oes met gejuig inbring. Al loop hy en huil terwyl hy die saaisak dra, hy kom juigend terug terwyl hy sy gerwe dra.” Al die saai deur die trane, seerkry en pyn wat jy het en ly sal beloon word as jy eerstens vir God soek. Nee my lewe susters God het nie van jou vergeet nie. Roep uit na Hom in jou donkerste uur. Offer lofprysing aan Hom. Spandeer ook tyd saam Hom in jou vreugdevolle oomblikke. Hy wag vir jou! 

~ Odelia Herstel in Australia