Tonight the Olympics will broadcast the closing ceremony of the 30th Olympiad, and I’m sure it’s going to be worth watching. Imagine the thoughts of the athletes who won a medal? This closing is the end of a long training process where they saw their goals reached. It is, I’m sure, a happy closing.
But what about the ones who trained just as hard, but didn’t reach their goal? They are returning home without a medal, but what they do have is many memories of falling short of where they had hoped to be. This closing for them is disappointing, maybe even sad.
We all face closings of various kinds in our lives: closing on a new home (happy), closing of a family business (sad), closing of a relationship (happy or sad), closing of one chapter of life to embrace a new chapter (happy and sad). The emotions which follow us after such closings are to be expected. We are human. We have emotions. And this is how God has made us.
So how do we prepare for closings in our marriage?
The answer is two-fold: We talk about how we’re feeling with our spouse and we pray to the only One who can help us. It is in times like these that we realize how much our life, our marriage, is affected by the decisions we make and the road marked out for us.
The good news is God has not left us to figure out these closings on our own.
He is leading us and guiding us through the daytime as much as He is through the darkness. We can trust Him to help us walk away from the disappointments, the closed doors and the changing seasons with faith for the new doors which are sure to open and the encouraging appointments He has prepared for us.
Spring always follows winter and with it comes new life.
What closings have you faced recently in your marriage? Were they the happy kind or the sad/disappointing kind? How is God helping you embrace the changing season?
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For a list of what’s happening in the Orlando Area for Date Nights this week, check out Theresa Johnston’s About Orlando site
The Romantic Vineyard 
“How is God helping you embrace the changing season?” Well, I think an overall answer to that is….
By turning to God consistently,
And by turning to each other consistently in love.
Praying,
Interacting,
Seeking wisdom from others,
Staying encouraged through positive influences (church and friends),
Etc.
That would be several quick responses!
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Excellent, Lee. We need God foremost, and the input of wise, trusted friends as well. This is exactly where we are!
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Amen. Where on earth would we be without the Lord. My wife and I came to know Christ around 21 years of age and we often find ourselves saying…
“Where on earth would we be?”
Oh, by the way, I’ve been enjoying the first one or two verses in Psalm 86 recently. You folks may like it as well.
Have a blessed night,
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Lee,
For some reason I found this comment in my spam folder. So glad I retrieved it–Psalm 86 is very encouraging to us right now. Thank you!
Blessings,
Debi
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Great! Glad you all enjoyed the Psalm!
Have a blessed day,
Lee
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Great! Glad you enjoyed it! Have a blessed day (not sure if this comment is coming through again).
Lee
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Yes, it came through fine. Thanks, Lee!
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I, unfortunately, am experiencing the closing of my marriage. My husband left a few months ago; and there is no hope for it (due to some horrible circumstances). I can’t imagine going through this without my faith. I know He is the one carrying me through this.
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Dear Heather,
We are so sad to hear your story. God is near to you in your brokenness, and we pray you’ll feel His comfort and strength.
Take care,
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