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I’ve always been a little suspicious of people who can be unruffled, composed, or resigned when something traumatic happens to them. My instinct is to think either they’re faking it, they’re in denial, or they’re deceived. Grateful for the Pain <\/b> So I had to re-read James 1:2 a couple of times to make sure I had actually read it right. “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.” <\/i> You mean consider it a joy when my husband of 19 years abandons me for another woman? Consider it pure joy to wait for God to bring him to his senses? Consider it pure joy to face my shame and insecurity over my husband’s rejection and the realization I too was an idolater? Yeah. Right. And yet, two years into my journey, I actually found myself grateful for the disclosure of my husband’s sin and the revelation on my own. God knew all about Russ’ secret sin. And he knew all about my idolatry or what the recovery world diplomatically calls codependency. He knows about all our sin (Psalm 90:8). But God was merciful, to both of us. If Russ had died unrepentant without his sin being exposed, I wouldn’t have known it until judgment day. And I would have continued in my ignorance, enslaved to my people pleasing. But God foresaw our future and therefore, in mercy, exposed both our sin so we could have every opportunity to repent and go to heaven. Things Above I think God spends a lot of time focusing on heaven. I mean, he lives there. Why wouldn’t he? I think that’s why he orchestrated his whole elaborate plan to qualify us for heaven. He tells us to set our hearts and minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-2) so that when pain inevitably comes, we can put it in its proper place in our lives. The Apostle Paul suffered intense persecution (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). In fact, four of the 13 epistles he wrote were done from a prison cell: Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon, and yes, Colossians. But Paul had his eyes so firmly fixed on heaven that he called all his pain and affliction “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). Yes, it may feel like your heart is being run through a shredder. But as someone who has moved through the pain of betrayal and recovery to a place of peace, I understand what Paul means. The four years of uncertainty, shame, fear, and continual heartache are a memory. Parts of it are still quite vivid, but the worst of the pain is slowly fading as Russ and I replace the pain and anguish with joy, trust, and emotional intimacy. Read more…<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve always been a little suspicious of people who can be unruffled, composed, or resigned when something traumatic happens to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":5375,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-5374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-womens-ministry"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Approved-stamp.jpg?fit=872%2C617&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"dtadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/dtadmin\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-1oG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5384,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/how-truth-frees-us-from-a-deceived-or-accused-mentality\/","url_meta":{"origin":5374,"position":0},"title":"How Truth Frees us from a Deceived or Accused Mentality","author":"dtadmin","date":"May 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Most of us are typically either deceived or accused. It goes back to the garden. Satan deceived Adam and Eve by accusing God of holding out on them. 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I forget a lot of things but not this one. I remember the day I had spinal surgery. The quickly planned surgery changed the course of my life. But it was two years ago, not yesterday. \"Get over it,\" I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Testimonials"","block_context":{"text":"Testimonials","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/testimonials\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/maria_swim_fam-960x1059-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/maria_swim_fam-960x1059-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/maria_swim_fam-960x1059-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/maria_swim_fam-960x1059-1.jpg?fit=960%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3912,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/how-to-deal-with-a-really-bad-boss\/","url_meta":{"origin":5374,"position":2},"title":"How to Deal with a Really Bad Boss","author":"dtadmin","date":"November 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"There\u2019s nothing quite like working for a boss who just doesn\u2019t care much for you. The sad truth is how often this happens across the corporate world. It\u2019s everywhere and in every company. I hear this from more clients than perhaps any other career concern.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/jacobandlaban.jpg?fit=489%2C620&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5658,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/women-today-studies-lessons-and-devotionals-item-8794-moments-of-gratitude-joyful-prayerful-and-thankful\/","url_meta":{"origin":5374,"position":3},"title":"Moments of Gratitude: "Joyful, Prayerful and Thankful"","author":"dtadmin","date":"November 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstance; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.\" -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Finding joy in all circumstances is our way to experience God's blessings. We can have faith through the storms when we are able to focus on God's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Women's Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Women's Ministry","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/womens-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/cashandmariamchargue.jpg?fit=913%2C913&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/cashandmariamchargue.jpg?fit=913%2C913&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/cashandmariamchargue.jpg?fit=913%2C913&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/cashandmariamchargue.jpg?fit=913%2C913&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5606,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/women-today-spiritual-blogs-item-8834-apart-from-god-i-have-no-good-thing\/","url_meta":{"origin":5374,"position":4},"title":"Apart from God I Have No Good Thing","author":"dtadmin","date":"December 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Psalm 16 -\u00a0 A miktam of David \"Keep me safe, my God,\u00a0for in you I take refuge.\u00a0I say to the Lord, \"You are my Lord;\u00a0apart from you I have no good thing.\"\u00a0 I say of the holy people who are in the land,\u00a0\"They are the noble ones in whom is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Women's Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Women's Ministry","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/womens-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/9780aad5-46da-458d-bf2f-ee67f84b33e3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5609,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/women-today-spiritual-blogs-item-8824-enough-for-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":5374,"position":5},"title":"Enough for Today","author":"dtadmin","date":"December 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Ever have one of those days where you have feel...OK God, I've had enough for today!? Whenever I feel I've had enough for today God reminds me, \"I'll give you enough for today.\" Enough grace, enough encouragement, enough joy, enough love, enough of anything and everything you truly need.","rel":"","context":"In "Women's Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Women's Ministry","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/womens-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/77051229-349a-4db6-a982-62a50de4660e.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/77051229-349a-4db6-a982-62a50de4660e.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/77051229-349a-4db6-a982-62a50de4660e.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Approved-stamp.jpg?fit=872%2C617&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5374"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=5374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}