Spiritually Unequal Marriage

Subscribe

·

Does God Have a Ministry For You?

Lynn here: For many, many years I honestly believed that if my husband was not a believer, I could not serve in any ministry. That is a lie from the…

Lynn here: For many, many years I honestly believed that if my husband was not a believer, I could not serve in any ministry. That is a lie from the pit of hell and I want to blow that myth completely out of the water. In fact, today it's my delight to share a new ministry that God brought through one of our long time readers here at Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

Let me introduce to you Courtney Silberman:

 

How Encouraging Women for Christ Encouraged Me
By Courtney Silberman

 

Courtney Silberman

Courtney Silberman

God said, It’s time.
I was back from my trip to Israel and finishing my last assignment for
seminary. Now what was I going to do? God had given me a vision for an online
women’s ministry, but I had no web development company to work with. I had
tried two last fall and neither one was the right fit. I began to feel
discouraged.  I began to feel despair.
But God has a way, at just the right time, of turning things around to show He
alone is God.

 

I drove to
meet my Bible study group one evening in late May. We had a close group, but I
hadn’t really told them about God’s plan for me to build a website. I admitted
my discouragement that evening and told them why. Then one of my friends mentioned
a web development company she uses for her organization. Almost right away, I
knew. I knew this was the one. God said, It’s
time.

I was
excited, but one thing made me uneasy-my husband. I had thought by now he would
have come to faith. I never expected to begin this ministry without him
understanding why I would pour my heart into an endeavor he knew little about.
I admit I got angry with God and said, rather uncharacteristically, “I’m not
doing this until you save my husband.” I fought Him for two days before making
the phone call to the web development company. Looking back, He was so kind to
me. He sat there, like the Compassionate Father He is, and listened. During my
protests, He kept saying, Trust Me.

There were
many people God brought alongside me to build the site and get it launched. He
brought in each person with the perfect gifts to fill the needed role for the
ministry. But no one could fill the role God had designed specifically for my
husband-financial planner and resource. Even though my husband has yet to profess
his faith, God is using him daily to help the ministry.

I learned
something big-God can use our husbands in ways we couldn’t even imagine. Here is
a ministry, founded by a woman, whose husband is deeply involved, and he
doesn’t even believe (yet)! Does that not show the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ?

I want to
encourage all of you in a similar situation now-if God is calling you to do
something in ministry, trust that He has taken care of your husband as well. If
you stay true to His Word and obey Him, He can use you to fulfill His plans in
the world. Don’t back down thinking you could never do this without a husband
who understands your faith. Our God is way bigger than we think and can do much
more than we can imagine. With God, all
things are possible.

Ministry Name: Encouraging Women for Christ
Web: http://EncouragedinChrist.org
Email: Courtney@EncouragedinChrist.org
Facebook: Encouraging Women for Christ
Twitter: @EncouragedToday

Encouraging Women To Christ logo

Comments

13 responses

  1. Heather Passuello Avatar
    Heather Passuello

    That is really awesome! I never thought about things in this way. I too had assumed that I cannot do any ministry (if God calls) until my husband is saved. What an encouraging testimony! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Courtney Silberman Avatar
    Courtney Silberman

    Hi Heather-You are so welcome! I’m so thankful my testimony is encouraging you too. I’m just in awe of the things He’s done I couldn’t have even imagined. Our God is faithful and strong–if it’s His will, He won’t let anything stand in His way. No obstacle is too big or too complicated for Him. Keep believing and seeking Him, knowing He has great plans for you, Heather! Love, Courtney 🙂

    Reply
  3. Sabrina Avatar
    Sabrina

    I just started a Bible study at my church reading the book Nehemiah, A Heart that can break, by Kelly Minter. I prayed that my husband would not give me slack about boing to a Bible study and being out another night during the week, and the Lord delivered. This study focuses on what God puts in our hearts to do. I feel like there’s a lot of things swimming around in my head – ideas or interests in different ministries. I am collecting these ideas and following up on things that are already in motion at my church – God knows I’m a type A person so I think he’s allowing me to gather the info to be more focused 🙂
    But I have had reservations about how my husband will react to my “mother theresa” moments. I just keep praying that God will show me where to focus and to pave the way with my husband. As always, God delivers a message just when I need it 🙂

    Reply
  4. Marian Avatar
    Marian

    This is very encouraging and I have always been amazed that Lynn and Dineen could talk so freely about their ministry, have a book, blog, travel etc with their husband’s blessings! It just reminds me that there are all kinds of mismatched marriages, some are happier and more supportive than others. I wish you well and will certainly check out your site! Thanks for sharing. I will continue praying for my husband’s interest in anything that has to do with my faith. So far I am off limits from even discussing it or what I do when I am at church or women’s groups.I think he is being pursued and it’s just too threatening. Anyway, thanks again!

    Reply
  5. Courtney Silberman Avatar
    Courtney Silberman

    Thank you so much for sharing that, Sabrina. When I look back on the last couple of years leading into online ministry, it doesn’t look like a pretty, well-organized picture. It looks a little like a drawing from my kindergartener. Being a Type A person myself, I’ve realized that it doesn’t have to look pretty to me, because I know the One whom it does look pretty too. I trust in His ways much more peacefully now, not worrying so much about how messy they look to me.
    Love, Courtney

    Reply
  6. Courtney Silberman Avatar
    Courtney Silberman

    Thank you, Marian! I will be praying for you, sweet sister. God loves you so much. He knows your heart and your husband’s heart too. He has placed the two of you together for a reason. I pray you’ll see some of the reasons very soon. Love, Courtney

    Reply
  7. Martha Bush Avatar
    Martha Bush

    I, too, waited at first to branch out into ministry that I knew God was calling me into. At first, it was a little awkward, but I am doing things now that my husband actually helps me do, and he still hasn’t professed his faith in Jesus Christ. But, God is in control and works in mysterious ways to bring about his plans. Blessings to you on your webiste; I checked it out, and it is very interesting and inspirational.

    Reply
  8. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    1 Samuel 16:7 “…The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I think we tend to want everything to look right on the outside before we move forward, but God wants us to trust Him and obey now! Just signed up for your emails, Courtney, may many women find encouragement through your new ministry and grow closer to God.

    Reply
  9. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    Courtney,
    Thanks so so much for sharing your story! I started the online Bible study and it was GREAT!!!!! I am excited to come back to Day Two. Your message brought God’sWord to life and it made me want to keep reading. Thank you for your divine inspiration! God’s Word is life changing!
    Thank you for being so transparent with your story. It is easy to think that people who are involved in ministry must have “the perfect life”. Satan feeds me that lie so often to make me feel alone in my struggles. Thank you for busting through it!

    Reply
  10. Courtney Silberman Avatar
    Courtney Silberman

    Thank you so much, Martha. And thanks for sharing your experience too! Many blessings! Love, Courtney

    Reply
  11. Courtney Silberman Avatar
    Courtney Silberman

    Hi Liz. You are so right. What a great Scripture to encourage us all. God knows our hearts and circumstances better than we do. We just have to trust Him.
    Thank you so much for your support! I hope the resources on the site continue to strengthen your walk with Him.
    Love,
    Courtney

    Reply
  12. Courtney Silberman Avatar
    Courtney Silberman

    Hi Erin,
    Thank you for sharing! Please let me know how your experience is going if you plan to work through the entire study. It would encourage me to hear how it encourages you too. My email is courtney@encouragedinchrist.org.
    You are welcome, and you’re right! I had that feeling too–that I couldn’t go into ministry because no one in my family had ever been in ministry. But it is a lie. God calls all kinds of different people into ministry. And praise God for our unique testimonies! He uses all of them to encourage others who’ve been in our shoes too.
    Enjoy the site and Only God Makes Things Grow! I will be praying for you.
    Love,
    Courtney 🙂

    Reply
  13. Dineen Miller Avatar
    Dineen Miller

    Crazy excited for you, Courtney! Love how God is working in your new ministry, especially with your hubby. I still shake my head in amazement at how He’s done this with our guys. Love how “visible” God can be sometimes. When He chooses. LOL! Hugging you, girl!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *