Today I’m writing over at Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today. Here’s what I had to say. I pray the words will breathe fresh life into your soul. And make sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post to learn about The 14 Days of Giveaways.
I sat on my porch with my Bible in my lap and a hot mug of coffee in my hand. Early morning is my favorite time of day. Just me, Jesus and a smattering of birds. However, this morning, as I looked out over my backyard, my eyes landed on a mound of fur nestled in the grass.
I moved in for a closer look. My heart sank as I discovered what appeared to be a curled-up lifeless baby fawn. Probably the same fawn my neighbor had seen nursing from its mom the day before. My heart broke. I understand the circle of life, but still. A baby fawn lay dead in my yard. Most likely the target of the coyote I’d seen roaming around.
I couldn’t get close enough to see the wound. Sometimes that is the way of things. I would have to wait until my husband got home to take care of the situation, as I didn’t have the nerve.
All morning long my mind returned to the still form lying in the sun. Hours passed. At noon I looked out of the window and the fawn remained unmoved. I couldn’t stand it. I had to know what had happened to it. So I mustered up my courage and made my way to the fawn. Three feet away. Stop. No signs of an attack. I inched closer.
Finally, I knelt down by the beautifully-crafted creature, admiring God’s handiwork. But I couldn’t see what had killed it.
“What happened to you, little deer?” I whispered.
Suddenly, the fawn’s head popped up! Startled eyes stared into mine. Like a deer caught in the headlights, I fell back on the grass. Time stood still for a moment as we stared at each other in disbelief!
Finally, the fawn sprang to its feet, wobbled a bit and scampered off. I sat in the grass and laughed and laughed and laughed. So, the fawn wasn’t dead after all. It had simply found a bit of grass and fallen asleep … until almost noon.
After my heart rate returned to its normal pace, God spoke to my heart: Sometimes things are dead, and sometimes they just need to be woken up. Click & Tweet!
I pondered those words for the rest of the day. I called a friend who was struggling in her marriage — in a very bad way. The sort of way that leaves you wondering if it will survive. I told her the story.
Sometimes things are dead, and sometimes they just need to be woken up.
Sometimes a marriage is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Sometimes a friendship is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Sometimes a dream is dead, and sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
I think of how God told the prophet Ezekiel to speak to the valley of dry bones: “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD’” (Ezekiel 37:4-6).
I imagine Ezekiel felt pretty silly talking to those dry bones. And honestly sometimes I feel pretty silly obeying God and speaking life into the dry bones of some of my situations.
So here’s the word for me and you today.
For my friend struggling in her marriage …
For my friend who cries for her adult son who walked away from God …
For my friend who longs to cuddle up with a good husband rather than a good book …
Don’t assume the dream is dead. Sometimes it just needs to be woken up.
Dear Lord, Wake me up! Stir my heart. It’s not over until You say it’s over. I commit to continue to pray for what others deem as a lost cause, for I know that there is never a lost cause when it comes to Your power to save, to deliver, to redeem, to rebuild. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Perhaps it is your marriage that needs woken up! Perhaps the mundane daily routine of life has lulled your relationship with your husband into an unhealthy slumber. If so, it’s time to wake it up and spice it up! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, The 14-Day Romance Challenge is just the ticket. If you’ve participated with me in the on-line challenge before, this book is double the content with over 250 ways to wow your man! 
And to to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I’m doing 14 Days of Giveaways over at my Facebook page. For 13 Days I’m giving away
Romance in a Box as seen on the right. (Yes, those are yummy cookies.) And on the 14th day I’m giving away a 3-book marriage bundle with a Praying for Your Husband laminated prayer card. So make sure and stop by my Facebook page everyday from February 1-14 for a chance to win.
Comments 12
Sharon I’ve read your posts before over at pr31 but today has really truly been a word for me thank you!!
I finally came over and checked out your blog and your books … mmm.,. I’ll be needing some of those ! God bless
Sam
There is no waking up my marriage. I live with a man who wants me to give up my family and my church. I am a mother of 4 sons, 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Should I give them up because he says so. Should I give up my Lord because he says so. I know the Bible tells us that women should submit to their husbands and do what they say but why should I give up the things that make me happy. In order to make him happy, I am only allowed to go to work and to the grocery store and that is it. How is that fair to me and is that what God wants for my life. I have tried for 15 years, I have tried and he is not going to change. At present I am looking for my own place to live and maybe that is what is needed. I have no idea, I just know I am miserable and my relationship with God is being affected.
I could use some insight into this situation.
My personal opinion is that your husband is being emotionally abusive to you. I think moving out is safest, and I encourage you to seek advice from your pastor, or some wise counsel from someone who knows your husband also. It sounds like a scary situation for you, as he sounds extremely controlling. Please don’t be afraid to reach out to some godly trusted friends. Praying for you and your family.
Great story Sharon. Very encouraging devotional. Thank you!
Great devotional. I’m the ” friend” whose adult son has wandered away from God. He wants nothing to do with Him. I’ve prayed and prayed that God would touch his heart and heal it. Would all who reads this agree with me in prayer for him. His name is Donny. Thank you!
I am the one who needs to wake up my Narnia get. But it’s actually me that needs to wake up. My Husband had an affair and the day he told me was the day I felt love and trust go. I have forgiven him because I have needed forgiveness myself. However I can’t seem to feel love and trust again. It’s been a bit over a year since he told me. He wanted to keep our marriage and work on it. He has made changes and because I trust God and believe His plans are for good I am trying. I just can’t trust my husband and just don’t love him……..
I been married for 21 yrs.
Last year I back with my husband from been separated a completed year.
The year of separation I was more closed to God than any year leaving with him.
I was hurt but with God I feel joy and peace in the middle of losing my marriage.
I become to have dreams and do things that I did not do because my husband do not like it. I become more healthy on many areas of my lifes and feel completed different and good about myself.
I feel me , again !
My husband after he back pretended to be changed for a little and them when back to the same behaviors.
I feel tired and death in my marriage, now.
I feel that I made of mistake for let us to be together again.
I believed and marriage!
I do not believed in divorce.
I give him to God and I do not feel praying for him any more. I do not trust him and feel that I give up in my marriage.
I am divorced after 40 yrs, he came back and abused me because of his own insecurities. It’s been three yrs and I am tired of living this way, not married, he’s out having his own life but my is stifled by his coming and going out of our lives. My son and his 2 children live with me, I love them all but it’s a strain on all of us because we are not one. My heart longs to belong wholly to God and I believe in Jesus as my savior, just so much pulling and tugging , distractions and unmarried relationship with my ex is a terrible strain on my faith. Its hard to keep hurting but he just don’t seem to understand what he is doing to me. I have no income because he doesn’t want me to work, says “Your Bills Are Getting Paid aren’t they” What kind of talk is that from someone who says they love and care for you. Makes no sense to me. But my picture on the wall says BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. What am I to do. I am getting desperately close to being violent or suicidal. I hate this type of talk or thought process. I see the effects drugs have had on my family and friends, But I understand the need for escape. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!
I got married before 30 years.
But because my husband was soldier he spent most of time out of home
now he retired but again i am away from home. In reality marriage seemed
not so much valued, but i thank God for the blessings of children ad grandchildren
all in all we need to come together to make up this good ending . I think i need to
give it to God in prayer to make it happy and lovely.
I am that person that needs their “marriage to wake up again”. I love my husband very much and have been praying for his return to our marriage for over a year now. I sometimes feel that my prayers are landing into an empty bucket. I have used your prayer book praying for your husband from head to toe for the entire year. I just read a blog on your page about God working but we may not be seeing the work yet. That blog has inspired me to continue to pray.
We have been married for 28 years
this year April 24th is our anniversary
And those 28 years haven’t always been perfect but through it all I still love my, husband and my husband still love me,
And we have Jesus the center
of our marriage that’s what makes
our marriage work.
Our saying is without Jesus
There’s no marriage Amen.
Just want to encourage all marriages out there even if you are struggling
I haveing some situations and circumstances going on in
your marriage hold on
its going to be alright
just keep on praying and believing in
Jesus he will change your marriage know that prayer still work with Jesus,
All things are possible.
Keep being bless,
In Jesus Name Amen.