Welcome back to the A United Front course. As you begin today, know that God loves you, and I am praying for you.
When first dealing with the issue of sexual impurity in my marriage, my prayers were mostly comprised of me begging God to make my husband stop his sexual sinning, repent, and be faithful to me. But over time, I discovered that my way of doing things was not like God’s at all.
It was hard to have hope when it seemed that nothing was getting better until I realized that God was addressing heart issues that were beyond my immediate understanding. Looking back, I can see that God was always working, just not in ways that I expected.
Yesterday, we spoke of having hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We saw that at the cross, Jesus not only forgives our sins, but He also heals our wounds and mends our broken hearts. We read, “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us” (Hosea 6:1-2).
There is a corresponding passage found in 1 Peter that reads, “after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).
Today, I want to talk with you about the pathway to this restoration, the pathway to healing, and to being strengthened by God. But be prepared; this pathway might not be what you expect.
To see this pathway to healing, let’s read more from 1 Peter 5:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:6–10
Question 2. According to verse 6 above, what is the first thing we should do to draw near to God and lay hold of the healing and restoration He has for us?