by Liane Conaway
Contributing Writer
It was an ordinary day, no different from any other. His calling defined him with uniqueness with a heart that beat with purpose for the eternal Kingdom. Yes he was a prophet, one who was completely devoted to the Lord, but this particular day would change his life as God gave Hosea his assignment.
Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD.
Hosea 1:2 NKJV
I don’t know about you but if God laid out this assignment for me I’d run the other direction. A marriage covenant that is betrayed and stained as the hurt and the sting of unfaithfulness penetrates the heart, is not what I’d sign up for.
Somehow, through his relationship with the Lord, Hosea knew he could be obedient to the Lord’s calling. He knew that the Lord would continually birth faithfulness as he yielded to his King.
Hosea could remain faithful to the Faithful One, this covenant he could trust. His wife, Gomer, the harlot was unfaithful. She represents many of us who have not remained faithful to our Lord.
Yet, the fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness. As we walk through life how do you respond when the Lord calls you to do hard things, just as He called Hosea? Do you choose to be faithful in the hardships? Or do you choose to be like the Harlot, unfaithful?
When I married almost 22 years ago I had no idea how hard it would be. My marriage is one that has tried me to my core, refining who I am. In moments of frustration in my marriage, when everything seemed broken and could never be fixed, it would have been easy to say, “Forget it! I’ll do what I want to do!”
Thankfully by God’s grace, the Lord took hold of my stubborn heart to teach me a better way early in my marriage.
This way would refine, equip and grow me into faithfulness, His faithfulness. This, my friend, is never a place of arrival but one that continues to birth new life as I look to the One who remains, steadfastly faithful.
Betrayal has many faces. But at the root, it penetrates the heart like a knife. It hurts. It is here where we are left with a choice. One that chooses to push back, get angry and make sure retribution is in place. Or one that chooses faithfulness to forgive, heal, grow and set healthy boundaries.
In order for me to choose the latter the eyes of my heart must elevate to the True Faithful One. His faithfulness assures me that I am secure in Him (Eph 1:3-14), that His love for me is never-ending (Roman 8:37-39), that He has given me purpose through His grace (2 Tim 1:9).
His faithfulness I can trust and it compels me to choose faithfulness in the hardest of circumstances. By choosing His faith, I am free from resentment and bitterness building its walls of confinement.
Many believers are hurting; marriages are broken and sick and need a good dose of faithfulness, His faithfulness. The power of faithfulness redeems and offers hope. Just as God chose Hosea to be faithful, He is also calling you.
Father, continually birth faithfulness within our marriages to glorify You. In areas where unfaithfulness haunts us, assure us of Your truth and our position of who we are in You. Thank you for loving us, thank you for your faithfulness so that we can become more like You. Amen.
As a teacher and writer, Liane Conaway is thankful that God can use her brokenness to communicate God’s truth with authenticity and passion to offer Hope in the messiness of life.
Another passion that drives her is her love for the Word of God. Over the last 21 years she has led numerous Bible studies desiring to encourage women to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind.
Although Liane has spoken at numerous Christian events for women in her hometown, she hopes to spend more time ministering through speaking and writing after 13 years of homeschooling.
Liane is a team member and contributing writer at Real Women Ministries.
Thank you for serving the women of Las Cruces and beyond!
These words are truly a blessing and a gift that has been spelled out and spoken to my jaded and woeful heart. I too have been betrayed and I’m not sure I’ve experienced, nor will, anything more hurtful. My heart is mending and comforted first time since I’ve been slowly fading away. I have forgiven but struggle with forgetting. Thank you!