This reminds me a bit of Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur's story. She was a French Catholic laywoman, and her husband Felix was an atheist, trying everything he could to pull her away from her deep faith in Jesus. Elisabeth prayed, practiced her faith, loved her husband, and offered up her many sufferings and sacrifices for his salvation. She kept a diary and after she died, Felix found it. In it she had predicted that not only would he become a Catholic, but also a priest. He had her diary published and it's a beautiful story. Elisabeth had a phenomenal interior life - a deep life of prayer. I love this story because it gives me so much hope. I am so grateful that my husband is a God-fearing man and that we can pray together, but he prefers Protestant theology and worship to the Catholic faith in which he was raised. I have become Catholic - and I am staying put because I believe this is where God has called me. That being said, I am so grateful that I learned from Elisabeth's story that it's not my job to change my husband, it's God's. My job is to love my husband and practice the faith God has called me to. Yes, husband and wife are in some respects responsible to help one another to heaven, but God is the one who really changes hearts. I won't get into the theology of what it means to be 'saved' because I know there's a lot of disagreement on that between Catholics and Protestants, and that's not the point of my writing here. I just know the pain of husband and wife having different beliefs and even if both are Christian but different denominations, there can seem to exist a vast chasm between the two at times. But God has worked on my heart (and I suspect my husband's) and we are able to pray to God together even though we haven't come to agreement on denominational issues. I guess we try to focus on the fact that each of us has a relationship with Jesus and tries our best to follow what He wills for us, in spite of our pride and stubbornness. I agree it's important to encourage our young adults to look for others that are believers, because when two are 'unequally yoked' - to whatever extent - it does create a lot of problems. Ultimately it's true that with God all things are possible, so we hope and trust in Him as best we can - and persevere in prayer.
I agree— a saving faith in Christ is the framework upon which our denominational “colors” are painted. There will be as many Protestants as Catholics to whom Jesus says, “Not everyone who psays to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will qenter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who rdoes the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew7:20-23)
Thank you for sharing. I am in this season. My husband does not attend church with me nor fully believe. I long for this and it has given me hope to continue praying for him 🙏🏼
It is so hard and leaves you feeling outside of so many things. I couldn't even fully find words for that feeling as I was writing, but I know you understand exactly what I mean. I am adding your husband to my prayer list this morning.
Friendly Catholic here - are Catholics considered saved? And would you still have been unequally yoked if he were a practicing Catholic? I'm a Catholic married to a non-practicing Protestant so I am curious!
I know that there’s a lot of dissension on both sides, but I hold to the idea of salvation being as stated in Romans 10:9: “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you can do that, I believe I will see you in heaven.
The Lord has been showing me recently just how important prayer is. Persistent prayer. Continued asking. I so appreciate your story and it has reminded me again of what He has been telling me. So many wonderful, encouraging testimonies within this story!
I was raised Lutheran, my husband was raised… in many churches. Being a child of divorce in a family who half prioritized faith half prioritized work. He was never baptized as a child nor chose it for himself later on. He chooses work every time. When we met I had been out of the faith for somewhere around 8 years already. I was pursing whimsical things like druidry and yoga. Then a proposal finally came… then our daughter… then finally a marriage… then finally the wedding celebrating that court house marriage… somewhere between the courthouse and our celebration I had an awakening. And it was because of my daughter. I decided to start going back to church… I didn’t feel the need to deconstruct and reconstruct our wedding plans to make them pure Lutheran or even hint at Christianity. They vows were very secular and still beautiful. And I have faith that God still blesses this union, for what is a child but a blessing and here she is, bringing herself, myself, and my mother back to church by her mere existence. I pray my husband will join the church. It would be so cool to have a husband who led the family in daily devotions and table prayers, and had biblical wisdom to share. But as it stands I’m the one spearheading these things. Honestly not unlike my own grandmother did. My grandpa was a church going man, but he kept Sunday doings as a separate part of life it seemed. Grandma made sure we prayed at every meal and bedtime. She read her devotions before bed and got us to church for all the things. My life feels like a mirror to hers right now. I’ll continue praying that he’ll start coming regularly, and praying even harder that he’ll get baptized.
I’m in the middle of this season. It’s incredibly hard, especially with young children. When I told him the kids and I were going back to church it was met with a lot of backlash ( he claims he believes). I’ve been praying for him for over a year. He wasn’t raised in faith, but your story gives me hope, something to hold on to. Thank you for sharing your story with us ❤️
This reminds me a bit of Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur's story. She was a French Catholic laywoman, and her husband Felix was an atheist, trying everything he could to pull her away from her deep faith in Jesus. Elisabeth prayed, practiced her faith, loved her husband, and offered up her many sufferings and sacrifices for his salvation. She kept a diary and after she died, Felix found it. In it she had predicted that not only would he become a Catholic, but also a priest. He had her diary published and it's a beautiful story. Elisabeth had a phenomenal interior life - a deep life of prayer. I love this story because it gives me so much hope. I am so grateful that my husband is a God-fearing man and that we can pray together, but he prefers Protestant theology and worship to the Catholic faith in which he was raised. I have become Catholic - and I am staying put because I believe this is where God has called me. That being said, I am so grateful that I learned from Elisabeth's story that it's not my job to change my husband, it's God's. My job is to love my husband and practice the faith God has called me to. Yes, husband and wife are in some respects responsible to help one another to heaven, but God is the one who really changes hearts. I won't get into the theology of what it means to be 'saved' because I know there's a lot of disagreement on that between Catholics and Protestants, and that's not the point of my writing here. I just know the pain of husband and wife having different beliefs and even if both are Christian but different denominations, there can seem to exist a vast chasm between the two at times. But God has worked on my heart (and I suspect my husband's) and we are able to pray to God together even though we haven't come to agreement on denominational issues. I guess we try to focus on the fact that each of us has a relationship with Jesus and tries our best to follow what He wills for us, in spite of our pride and stubbornness. I agree it's important to encourage our young adults to look for others that are believers, because when two are 'unequally yoked' - to whatever extent - it does create a lot of problems. Ultimately it's true that with God all things are possible, so we hope and trust in Him as best we can - and persevere in prayer.
I agree— a saving faith in Christ is the framework upon which our denominational “colors” are painted. There will be as many Protestants as Catholics to whom Jesus says, “Not everyone who psays to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will qenter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who rdoes the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew7:20-23)
Thank you for sharing. I am in this season. My husband does not attend church with me nor fully believe. I long for this and it has given me hope to continue praying for him 🙏🏼
It is so hard and leaves you feeling outside of so many things. I couldn't even fully find words for that feeling as I was writing, but I know you understand exactly what I mean. I am adding your husband to my prayer list this morning.
I agree fully. I see so many families at church and long to be there with my own full family... Thank you so much 🙏🏻
Thank you for this!! My husband says he believes in God but thinks he’ll go to heaven because he’s “a good person.” We pray for him so much!
Also, I really love what you share over here. Reading about your Mamaw has been lovely. I, too, have a Mamaw and Papaw ❤️
Praying the scales fall from your husband’s eyes and he sees the full truth of the Gospel!
Beautifully told and written, Heather! Thank you for sharing with us. God still answers prayer!
Friendly Catholic here - are Catholics considered saved? And would you still have been unequally yoked if he were a practicing Catholic? I'm a Catholic married to a non-practicing Protestant so I am curious!
I know that there’s a lot of dissension on both sides, but I hold to the idea of salvation being as stated in Romans 10:9: “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you can do that, I believe I will see you in heaven.
Thank you for your reply and for your wonderful writing!
The Lord has been showing me recently just how important prayer is. Persistent prayer. Continued asking. I so appreciate your story and it has reminded me again of what He has been telling me. So many wonderful, encouraging testimonies within this story!
Thank you for sharing this!
<3
I was raised Lutheran, my husband was raised… in many churches. Being a child of divorce in a family who half prioritized faith half prioritized work. He was never baptized as a child nor chose it for himself later on. He chooses work every time. When we met I had been out of the faith for somewhere around 8 years already. I was pursing whimsical things like druidry and yoga. Then a proposal finally came… then our daughter… then finally a marriage… then finally the wedding celebrating that court house marriage… somewhere between the courthouse and our celebration I had an awakening. And it was because of my daughter. I decided to start going back to church… I didn’t feel the need to deconstruct and reconstruct our wedding plans to make them pure Lutheran or even hint at Christianity. They vows were very secular and still beautiful. And I have faith that God still blesses this union, for what is a child but a blessing and here she is, bringing herself, myself, and my mother back to church by her mere existence. I pray my husband will join the church. It would be so cool to have a husband who led the family in daily devotions and table prayers, and had biblical wisdom to share. But as it stands I’m the one spearheading these things. Honestly not unlike my own grandmother did. My grandpa was a church going man, but he kept Sunday doings as a separate part of life it seemed. Grandma made sure we prayed at every meal and bedtime. She read her devotions before bed and got us to church for all the things. My life feels like a mirror to hers right now. I’ll continue praying that he’ll start coming regularly, and praying even harder that he’ll get baptized.
I’m in the middle of this season. It’s incredibly hard, especially with young children. When I told him the kids and I were going back to church it was met with a lot of backlash ( he claims he believes). I’ve been praying for him for over a year. He wasn’t raised in faith, but your story gives me hope, something to hold on to. Thank you for sharing your story with us ❤️