Baptism

Steve Miller | Monday, July 9, 2012

As in our own testimony, we saw the Lord use something terrible to piece back together something beautiful.

My wife and I shed a few tears yesterday watching the baptismal service.  In the past year we had a woman, “Jane,” show up alone to our Married Couples Bible study.  She was clearly seeking the Lord for a better marriage, miserable in her current existence, and lonely.  Her husband refused to go to church with her and regularly stayed out with friends under the influence of drugs and alcohol, misbehaving and ignoring his family.

Jane shed many tears on my wife’s shoulder and was the focus of many of my wife’s prayers.  A few months after meeting her, we were told Jane’s husband had been in a serious accident and was in critical condition.  Our prayers for them took on a renewed passion, and we felt terrible for the entire family. He survived but struggled with walking and talking and everyday actions so many of us take for granted. 

The first time I met Jane’s husband, she brought him to a ministry fair our church was holding.  He was weak and could barely speak; he moved gingerly like a 90-year-old man afraid of his own brittle condition.  My heart hurt for him, but it would be a while before I had the chance to talk to him again. 

A few weeks ago, I noticed a couple come in a little late to Bible study and quietly sit in the back. I looked up to see Jane and her husband, who was not quite back to normal but a little more healed than he was the last time.  He smiled and even participated by sharing and asking questions.  After class, my wife and I rejoiced at how far they had come as a couple in light of their circumstances.

Yesterday, as our pastor called the first adult down the steps for baptism, I watched a man carefully make his way down into the pool–it was him!  I jumped to my feet and cheered for him as he came out of the water, and my wife and I smiled at each other through our tears.  After he made his way back up the stairs, Jane came down on the other side and was baptized as well.  

My wife and I both stood applauding the occasion of two souls proclaiming Jesus as Lord and a renewed marriage built upon Him! As in our own testimony, the Lord can use something terrible to piece back together something beautiful.  

She may not have a husband who is completely whole in body yet, but the Lord is answering Jane’s prayers for a man who follows after God.   

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