Topic: Handling Family Challenges (1)
Dear Reader,
Happy New Year! It is the first edition for the year and it holds many blessings for you. It is my prayer that all that God intents for your family this year be achieved in Jesus’ name! From recent observations, it is clear that topmost on the counselling list of churches and centres are family-related issues. Many people have questions on the family for which few people seem to have adequate answers to. The general impression is that no human being can enjoy total success in family life.
However, this is far from the truth. God, the originator of marriage and the family, designed it to be successful and enjoyable. His purpose for instituting marriage remains the same. Nothing can alter it – not even civilisation, technological advancement or philosophical reasoning. However, the fact that many are frustrated, unhappy, fed up and failing does not tamper with the truth of God’s Word. Marriage is designed for success. This truth must be appreciated in order to appropriate it in your marriage. The key to family success can only be found in the Word. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8). Success in all areas of life is God’s will for you, but it does not come by chance, it must be consciously acquired from the Word.
A successful family is where there is joy, abundance, rest and love. This is God’s utmost desire for you. Just like every game or sport has rules guiding it, there are rules to follow in order to have a successful family life. To break any of these rules does not only disqualify you from having a successful family, but also results in challenges in the family. Throughout this month, I shall teach on this important topic: Handling Family Challenges.
What Are Challenges?
Challenges are defined as difficult tasks that test someone’s ability. So, handling family challenges can be said to be the ability to deal with, manage or control some difficult situations in the family. In other words, it means taking care of the family by removing every destructive element in it.
There are some little foxes that serve as threat to family peace, joy and happiness. The Bible says:
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes (Songs of Solomon 2:15). Foxes are usually identified with destruction in the Scripture. They are little things that some may consider too insignificant to merit any attention. But, amazingly, those seemingly insignificant things can destroy unity in the families, if not properly handled. All through this month, I shall examine some of them and how they can be successfully handled.
Challenges of Family Life
UNFORGIVENESS
This is the seed that breeds bitterness. The Bible says: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15). The term “springing up” connotes a thing that starts small and then suddenly explodes. Bitterness starts from very little things. Perhaps, your spouse or a family member has done something to hurt you and you refuse to forgive him or her, every remembrance of the incident brings pain to you. Watch it! That’s a root of bitterness springing up gradually. If it is not handled immediately, it will ultimately trouble the peace of your home.
Unforgiveness has many negative effects ranging from lost of peace and rest, to falling short of God’s grace. Not only does it trouble individuals, it goes beyond that to defile the person (Acts 8:23). Unforgiveness and bitterness torments. It opens the door to certain devourers such as poverty, barrenness, sickness, etc., in the family. Now that we know the effects of unforgiveness and bitterness, wisdom demands that we properly handle them in order to experience family success.
How Then, Can You Overcome Unforgiveness?
Someone may ask what must I do to overcome unforgiveness and bitterness? The answer is simple, forgive! The Bible says: Let all bitterness…be put away from you, with all malice (Ephesians 4:31). Forgive whosoever has offended you. Don’t wait for the person to come and apologise to you, because he may not. Learn the secret of instant forgiveness. That is, forgive as soon as you are offended, whether the offender asks for it or not. This is one of the secrets of success in family life. The Word of God has this to say about strife and envy: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work (James 3:16). Many have lost their families to bitterness; you don’t have to join them. This principle of instant forgiveness has helped me a great deal. My husband and I practice it and it pays off for us. It pays to forgive!
Before you can forgive, firstly, you need to be forgiven by God by accepting Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour. If you desire His forgiveness, say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.