Shepherding: Married Couple

For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:25, RecVer

Only the Lord Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls. No human can truly and fully shepherd the complicated souls. It would be foolishness to try to do so without the Lord, even stupidity to even think that one imperfect soul can shepherd another imperfect soul. Any attempt would simply be, a blind leading a blind. This lesson I have learned long ago. The Lord’s light have shown on me and I am well aware of the complication of the untransformed complicated souls.

Today, I received a surprise and a distress call from a sister who has been living separately from her husband. She called to enquire if I could somehow find out how her husband was doing. It seemed that a suicidal post came to light on social media from her husband. I have long ago stayed away from social media and was not aware about people’s posts. Thereore, sensing the urgency, I complied to her request, yet not without first praying and careful consideration of what I was about to get into.

I called the brother as requested to call, and sure enough, he was in a deep distress since his wife lived separately a few years ago. Deep within me, I prayed to the Lord for wisdom to discern the situation rightly and not be carried away by what I heard. One lesson I have been learning is, learning to listen. So, I lent my listening ears as he poured out his soul even with weepings, sorrows, anguish, regrets, loneliness, and desperation. I was fully aware that only the Lord Jesus is the soultion to his marital issues that comprises his personal life too. I dared not lightly voice my opinion nor even try to console in my natural man. For I know, only the Lord Jesus can console and comfort him. I was all prayers as I was listening to whatever he had to say. Finally, after about an hour of his emotional outpouring, I led him to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. Then, I prayed and he followed suit. 

Though he confided in me his deep emotional longings, I led him to turn to the Lord Jesus who is the only Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. I cannot give life but I can dispense the Lord’s life dispensed into me to him through shepherding. Since he also requested me to initiate a conference call with his estranged wife, I gave my honest reply by letting him know that for such, her consent was required. I cannot intrude into other people's personal space without their permission. Then, we hung up the call for further calls.

As I called up the sister, she also poured out her feelings concerning him and the reason for separation and her decision for further actions. Again, with clear understanding in mind that only the Lord Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of her soul, I also let her know what the word of God says about a married couple. She also agreed for a conference call, so we had a conference call: he, she, and me, keeping in mind that we were not and cannot do anything in this regard, and praying that the Lord Jesus would come in, in the call.

As the couple and I were on a conference  call, I gave a general overview of what the Bible says about a husband and a wife. And God's purpose in creating man and Satan's strategy of destroying what God had planned. I only respoke the word of God and let both of them know and reminded them that, as chidren of God possessing God's divine life, they are to fulfill God's purpose and that their marriage life is for God and not merely for themselves. And also warned them that having known God's purpose, one's responsibility is to obey and submit to God and His words; no matter their history; no matter their feelings, opinions, and decisions; and no matter what. Nevertheless, I made it clear to both, the choice was theirs. 

Then, I let both of them speak. Each had spoken their view points that went on for another hour. The Lord’s grace was sufficient to pay heed to what the duo had to say. Though differences of opinion arose concerning their relationship, at least they both spoke their hearts out. Most importantly, they heard one another.

Finally, I had to interject and encouraged them to go before the Lord in prayer and let the Lord lead them. I prayed for the couple to be under the Lord’s perfect will, and that God's love, life, and light be their love, life and light, and that they would love one another with the divine love and be one with one another with the oneness of God. Therefore, I committed them both to God. Thus, the online conference ended in a good note.

Sometimes, I wonder why a good number of marital issues among the saints have been brought to me, time and again. I know fully well that I am incapable of settling any issue, and I would not dare even try. But as the matters keep coming I cannot escape from it either. I had to listen to marital issues, which, by and large, in principle, are all the same. All with different actors and settings, but same storyline. I only brought whoever brought their marital matters to me, to God, by the way, leading them to the Shepherd and Overseer of the souls.

Lord, preserve all the married couples in You for the sake of Your testimony. Lord, may all the married couples of the saints love one another with Your divine love and be one with one another in Your divine oneness. Lord, put Your enemy Satan to an open shame and turn all his divisive tactics to the manifestation of Your multifarious wisdom. And, glory be to You. Amen.