When I see a new stander who is also new in faith or coming from a lukewarm maturity, I get this feeling of overwhelmed over me. I see the sheer magnitude of what they must grow through. NO that is not a typo, I said GROW through. And all I want to do is pour into them and level them up, yes that is gamer language.

When you first start out in a video game, you start at the lowest level and don’t have access to all the cool things. You get your butt kicked if you try to take on things that are above your level.

When I see a Stander just entering the stand. I see everything I went through. I see the levels of maturity. I see and remember every single victory and advancement, and I know that each one was so important. And as much as I get overwhelmed by all that a new stander has to go through and learn, and I want to come in and teach them all at once to ease their pain and suffering.

One message that I try very hard to help the Stander understand is that Standing is not what they think. Standing is not “Standing for marriage restoration PERIOD.” It’s NOT that simple.

It’s so vast, that I can’t even begin to describe what it is except to say it’s a lifetime of understanding and knowledge. It’s a profound part of your life story as a Christian.

Each time you respond to something you are facing,
good or bad-it will reflect where you are at in your relationship with Jesus.
I don’t respond to things now the same way I did in 1997 when I got saved.
I don’t react to things now the way I did in 2009 when my marriage fell to pieces.
I don’t handle bad situations the same way now because I have different beliefs. I don’t see, hear, think, feel, the same way now because I have been delivered from roots of shame, rejection, and unworthiness that altered my sight, twisted my thinking, blinded me to truth, and kept me from Jesus.
Every place I struggle with shows me where my relationship with Jesus needs help.
My spouse, my marriage, can’t fix my issues.
Every single issue I had in my storm was a reflection of where I was weak in my Christian walk. Every single place I had victory showed me where I was strong in my Christian walk.
When I was able to let go. It was ONLY because I was trusting God. When I was able to zip my lips, it was ONLY because I had faith in Jesus. When I was not afraid, it was ONLY because of my confidence in Him. When I was able to stop letting what my spouse was doing affect me and drag me down, it was ONLY because I no longer had my hopes in anything but JESUS.
Now, I am going to say this again. Your struggles reflect where you are at in your relationship with Jesus. That is why we have to GROW THROUGH this. As we grow in our faith, trust, knowledge, and understanding, we level up! We gain more knowledge and experience on how to use the weapons of our warfare that we have been given. Is that not amazing!!!

 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but divinely powerful toward the demolition of strongholds, 2 Corinthians 10:4

 As much as I want to come in and help you go from a beginner on milk, straight to mature on meat, that is not how God does things and for good reason. The daily lessons is what is needed. Going through each and every struggle is there for a reason and you can’t skip over them.

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
But I can help you see them differently. Approach each trial and tribulation with a new understanding and approach.
Romans 5:3 rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Each situation is going to reveal to you where you need growth or a change of belief. Each situation will show you where you have grown in the Lord, or grown hard against God. Every reaction will reveal if you trust God, or are still trying to control. Are you still holding unforgiveness? That situation will reveal it.
Why does this matter? What if your level here on earth is what determines if you hear “Depart from Me I never knew you.” What if your level on earth determines if you make it through the narrow gate. What if salvation is more than just the sinners prayer but a reflection of your personal love, belief, intimacy and understanding.
What if Standing was never really just about saving your marriage but saving your soul?
 
Standing with you, 
Sheila Hollinger

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(~Marriage Revealed Ministries Inc. is committed to helping bring healing and restoration to couples who are struggling in their marriage. We do this through the revelation of Who God is and His heart and design for marriage which never intends abuse in any form. If you suspect abuse in your relationship, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit them online at thehotline.org~