May I ask for prayers?

I am relatively new here, but so glad to have found this forum! I am down 103 pounds from surgery and 63 pounds from my goal. I'd like to ask for serious intercession for my husband. He has struggled with severe clinical depression for years and has many unresolved hurts from childhood that he is reluctant to work through. About 1 year ago, his depression became so bad that he was fired from his job, but we were able to get him reinstated after a leave of absence. During his leave, he did agree to take medication and work with a christian counselor. Unfortunately, the counselor was not very directive and did not focus on the underlying lies and false beliefs that cause my husband to have such a problem with self-esteem and anger. He stopped seeing the counselor in November after feeling like he was wasting time and money, but frankly, not a lot was resolved. He is sliding back into his poor self-esteem problems and having angry outbursts. He is very tense and controlling and last night (Valentines Day) had a huge outburst when I cuddled up and wanted affection. He accused me of "making him feel guilty!" and got very ugly! We have not had intimate relations for almost 2 years...unfortunately, I thought that weight loss would help, but it has made it worse...he is very rigid and does not even hug me most days. This is torturous! I've contacted another christian counselor, but I don't know if he'll agree to try again since the last one was so ineffective. I know this is not God's will for marriage, but I do not want to leave him because I love him and believe he is the man that God has chosen for me. Please pray for wisdom, courage, encouragement and frankly, a miracle.

Denise, I don't have tons of wisdom to share. There are no words that I or any one could say to you to make all of your problems go away. I will say our God is a God of miracles. There is no one to far from His reach or His healing. I will pray for you and your husband. I pray that you will cling to God like never before. And that Christ would fill your husband from the inside out to overflowing. Hold on. God is faithful, He will never abandon you. God bless you always~ Candy

Denise, I have asked the Lord to help your husband heal by working through all of his issues and have asked that you have the strength to support him. Our God is a wonderful, loving God. He wants us to love ..."the greastest of these is love" My hubby and I had a rough year a few years back and with much prayers and help from the Lord our marriage is stronger than ever. There is a marriage type seminar called A Weekend to Remember, it is put on by Family Life. I would highly recommend this to you and your husband. http://www.familylife.com/conferences/find_conference.asp May God keep you strong, Jen

First of all, welcome to our forum. We are glad to have you! I will be praying that God give you and your husband the strength to work through these issues. I also pray that you keep reading the word and praying for your husband, and encouraging him. I will keep lifting you and your husband up in prayer. May God Bless you always! Take Care and have a Blessed night! Tamara

Denise, I just wanted to recommend that if your husband is not willing to go to another christian counselor, maybe you should go alone. They can help you as well. Just a recommendation. I will keep your husband in my prayers. God can and does heal. I went through severe depression after my youngest daughter was born. I am doing better now. I still have my days and can feel it coming on, but with God's help I always snap out of it. I will also keep you in my prayers. Shel

I will be praying for your family too. May God supply all your needs.

Denise, My precious sister in Christ. I know the severe ache of a lonely heart that longs to be adored, not merely tolerated. I think Valentine's Day just makes it worse. But we can take comfort in knowing that we are the apple of God's eye. He is our pursuer. If we run away, he will chase after us. I cannot say that about my husband. And let us also take comfort in this: there are many other sisters in Christ who have been here before us, and they have a Testimony that God saw them in their pain and had mercy on them. We cannot change our husbands' hearts. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. The more we try to take over the job of the Holy Spirit, the farther away we push the men we love. Imagine what reward we will have in heaven for being the Godly wives that He called us to be, even in the presence of persecution. I know it is so hard, and we wonder if there will ever be relief. Just know that He is refining us as silver, so His reflection will shine through our lives. We are overcomers by our testimonies. Imagine 2,5,or even 10 years from now that these present cir****tances are creating an amazing testimony to the glory of God. I pray God will give you the Strength and the Courage necessary to make it through this season of pain. Remember, this battle is not ours, it is the Lord's. And I pray God will open your eyes to see that "there are more (angels fighting for us & saints cheering for us) that are with us than are with them (the enemy- it is not our husband's that we are battling, it is the demons and principalities that want to get at God by hurting His children). We only lose if we throw in the towel. (I know because I was ready to throw in the towel just last night. My husband thinks God is a big fairy tale that weak people have used to comfort their simple minds.) We know that the battlefield is in the mind. So put on the full armor of God and read Philippians 4:4-9. Believe these things about yourself: 1. You are created in the image of God. 2. You are beautiful, gorgeous, lovely, adorable, sweet, and kind. 3. You are good. 4. You are worthy of being loved just for being you. You do not have to wear yourself out trying to earn it. 5. You are a Princess. After all, you are a child of the King of kings! I wish we could feel God's touch. Seek Him! Seek him first when you are tempted to feel pity over your cir****tances, and I believe he will reward you with many other things. I love you, and I wish I lived close enough to hug you and have a good cry together. God bless you and your children! Darlene