1 Peter 3:7 – Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Some men feel like God is not hearing or answering their prayers…because He is not.
Some men feel like God is not helping them…because He is not.
Some men feel like God is against them…because He is.
It is not uncommon for men to have troubles in their life and take out their frustration on their wives by being demeaning, domineering, and condescending. For the wife, this is an impossible position, especially if the man feels unsafe and is larger, stronger, and therefore dangerous to live with.
When this kind of thing happens, a man then starts to have pity on himself, feeling sorry for himself that his life is so hard (which it might be) and then starts judging God for failing to make his life easier. Some men even stop going to church, praying, or reading their Bible because they feel like God has failed them and therefore, they no longer owe him any honor. This is a death spiral that many men are in as the majority of church attenders are women who wish their husbands were with them.
For the men, consider all of this from God’s perspective. If you have a daughter, this should be easy for you to see. What if a man married your daughter and said the things to her and did the things to her that you do to your wife, how would you feel about that man? Now, imagine that her husband asked you to help him harm or ignore her. Would you even consider helping him hurt your girl?
Of course not!
God is a Father. Long before she was your wife, your wife was His daughter. If you are not going to honor and cherish His daughter, why in the world should He go out of His way to help you? Until you repent of your sin to Him and His daughter and start treating her with love, honor, or consideration, you should not feel sorry that your life is hard or get mad at God for not helping you. Just because life hurts and if feels like God is distant does not necessarily mean you are a victim needing compassion, you may be a victimizer needing correction.
Once you do repent to the Father and His daughter and start to treat her the way you’d want your daughter treated, then the anointing of God’s grace flows down on you and the rest of your family. More than anything, the one thing that makes a great marriage and family is the anointing of God and that can only flow where men own their sin and love their wives.
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To download the free e-book ODD LIFE: Good God which is a study in 1 Peter for individuals, groups, and families from Pastor Mark click HERE. To listen to Pastor Mark’s 9 sermons on 1 Peter preached in the summer of 2020, click HERE. These and other resources are made possible by our ministry partners who support Real Faith as a Bible teaching ministry of Mark Driscoll Ministries to whom we say THANK YOU!