To Be Happy in Jesus: To Trust and Obey
This story began during a difficult season for a husband and wife whose marriage had reached a breaking point. They had stopped speaking to one another, and in moments of frustration, the wife would say, “If this doesn’t work, we’ll just get divorced.”
As we listened, it became clear that their struggles were not new. Years of unresolved issues had accumulated, including challenges in communication, tensions involving extended family, and the weight of personal weaknesses and old patterns. Yet beneath all of this was a deeper issue. We shared with the husband that true change begins when a person humbly comes before God, confesses sin, surrenders control, and allows Jesus to reign fully over their life. That surrender marks the beginning of something new.
We also met privately with the wife and heard the depth of her exhaustion and disappointment. She felt she had tried everything and believed nothing could change anymore. We gently reminded her that no one can change another person’s heart. Only God can do that. We encouraged her to place her marriage into God’s hands and to trust him, not only to work in her husband, but also to transform her own heart. Accustomed to relying on her own strength, she chose instead to wait on the lord and depend on his work.
In family conflict, the greatest challenge is not the complexity of the situation, but how each person responds to Jesus. By God’s grace, both husband and wife were willing to bow before him, confess, repent, and invite him to bring healing, renewal, and hope into their marriage.
Even before further counselling began, there was confidence that this story would not end in despair. As Scripture reminds us,
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” – 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Through guided conversations, the couple learned to express their needs, affirm one another, and address long-avoided issues. Together, they uncovered deeply buried wounds and, through prayer, chose forgiveness toward one another and their families, seeking the lord’s healing.
The transformation was evident. Their relationship grew harmonious, their home was filled with joy, and they began serving together with one heart. They also enrolled in Bible study courses, recognising the importance of knowing the lord and trusting him fully.
Not long afterwards, while teaching a children’s Sunday school class on loving one another, Ming asked, “What does loving one another look like?” Their daughter answered simply, “Just like my dad and my mom.”
Trust in the lord, and be transformed. When we trust, obey, and look to God, he can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).
