Today’s post is written by friend and contributor, Lara Williams. Her new book To Walk or Stay launches this week! Check it out.
Marriage can be stinkin’ hard. Well…at least my marriage has been stinkin’ hard. (And yes, my husband would say the same.)
But God.
There’s no other explanation, but God. According to the world’s standards, we shouldn’t have survived this long. From the outside looking in, the valleys should have destroyed us. But. God.
We were a train wreck just waiting to happen. We both entered marriage with unspoken, unrealistic, selfish expectations for what this “I do” meant. And eventually, infidelity put its mark on our home.
Click here to read more about To Walk or Stay.
But this book isn’t about my husband or his sin. Because believe me, it’s only by God’s grace that the tables weren’t turned. This book is about a very big God who patiently waits to meet us in the darkest of valleys.
It was in the dark that I wrestled with God, working out His view of love, forgiveness, and freedom. It was in the dark that He proved Himself sufficient.
My man and I have a redemption story to tell. Amazingly, miraculously, God has restored the years. But the greatest gifts were those things that God did in me through the fiery trial — peace in the storm and joy in what should have been debilitating despair.
Our marriage hasn’t been easy, but it has been beautifully purposeful. Because God is faithful. Regardless of where life has us, there’s hope because He reigns.
Giveaway! (Now Closed)
This week marks the launch of To Walk or Stay. (YAY!) And to celebrate, we’re giving a free copy to 5 lovely, randomly-selected winners.
To enter the giveaway, just share this post on any of your favorite social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest) and then leave a comment below for each time you shared.
Get two entries if you go ahead and purchase the book. (That way, if you win the free copy, you can give one to a friend for Lara’s book club that begins April 15th.) Leave two comments below if you purchase the book today!
Speaker and writer, Lara Williams lives in central North Carolina with her husband and three young children. Click here to check out her blog.
Shared on fb. 🙂
Shared on Pinterest!
http://m.pinterest.com pin/42784265182560532/
What a powerful testimony. I’d love to read the book and pass it along to a dear friend in a very difficult marriage.
shared on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/5770305744937600/
Shared on Facebook! Very anxious to read! Every marriage has ups and downs. It’s just about making it strong enough to make it thru it!
shared on twitter
shared on pinterst
Shared this on Facebook for a dear friend who could really use a copy of this book right now.
Pinned it – http://pinterest.com/pin/287315651199835302/
Bought the book!
Shared on Facebook!
Bought the book!!
This topic is very close to my heart, my husband and I have struggled with a similar situation. Will be getting this book for sure!
Maghan,
You won the copy of Lara’s book. Email me your address and I’ll have it sent to you right away.
Congrats!
Shared on Twitter!
I shared on Pinterest
Tweeted:
https://mobile.twitter.com/randi094/status/313688999053099009
🙂
Shared on Facebook! Went to Amazon and read the first bit of it! It captivated me. Can’t wait to read the rest!
Yes! God is faithful through it all…
We are reading through the Excellent Wife right now and I know some of the ladies struggle with this very subject, stay or leave and why staying is the right choice. This would be great to share!
Just bought the Kindle edition! Looking forward to reading it!
Pinned it!
http://pinterest.com/pin/20899585743175796/
Shared on FB RamFM (public)
I pinned it to my Pinterest Faith board!
Stacie,
You won the copy of Lara’s book. Email me your address and I’ll have it sent to you!
Congratulations!
Thank you so much! I will be sure to post a review of it on my blog!
Bought the kindle edition for my ipad!
Posted to Twitter!
https://twitter.com/SarilloRojas/status/313724745394843648
Shared on Twitter
tweeted
pinned
Shared on FB! Definitely excited to do this study! I get married April 26th! ☺
Posted to FB…thanks for the opportunity!
I just bought the kindle version of the book, and shared on twitter. If I win a free copy I will give it away to my soon-to-be sister-in-law. Thank you! By the way – I am finding so much comfort in the book!
shared on twitter ! @livingalifeop
liked on fb and shared on twitter!
shared on facebook
shared on twitter
I shared on facebook.
I shared on Twitter
Laura,
You won the copy of Lara’s book. Email me your address and I’ll have it sent to you!
Congratulations!
Shared on Facebook!
And on twitter!
On a God ordered social media break so no comment made anywhere, but would love to win this book 🙂
Once on Twitter…
And once on Facebook.
Just shared on Twitter!
Also just shared on FB!
Just bought my copy on Amazon!!!
Can’t wait to get home to my Kindle and start reading it. I am sure this will help me in my marriage. We have been struggling for years (we’ve only been married for almost 9) but I have always sensed God nudging me to hang in there…and sometimes I’ve been hanging by my fingernails. 🙂
Lara that is wonderful that you have made it through life trials with your marriage. I have always said, that when we wish to have a strong marriage God must be in the center of it. If he is not it can be like a pile of sand that the wind can blow away at any given moment.
Bless you and I will give you all the help I can to let people know that your story is out there. Bless you for sharing and Kat that was so nice of you for letting Lara do a guest post on your blog. Kindness always comes back two folds.
Blessing to you both.
Oh, I can soooo use this blessing of a book! Thanks for the chance! I tweeted.
https://twitter.com/melt003/status/313795575856381953
Tweeted!
I also shared on FB
I pinned this on Pinterest, too!
Shared on facebook
I tweeted about the book,
Shared on Pinterest
Tweeted. https://twitter.com/twinsz/status/313824109731655680
Shared on twitter!
I would love to share this book with a girlfriend of mine! Thanks for the opportunity:)
Hi ladies!
Thank you so very much for sharing this resource. I was in a marriage that crumbled in eight short months due to my husband’s hidden infidelity and addiction. I’m now remarried to a wonderful man…three and a half years strong. However, God is quietly unveiling parts of me that need work. Oh my, it’s not easy! I’m learning to re-look at the events of my first marriage and finding the journey heartbreaking. I see my sin, past and present, more clearly and the toll it could take on my marriage and husband if I do not seek God’s redemption. Prayers for your journeys, my journey and the walks of other Christian women and their men.
– shared this on Facebook
Blessings!
– Emily Martin
Emily,
You won the copy of Lara’s book. Email me your address and I’ll have it sent to you!
Congratulations!
Prayers for many to be encouraged by this book. Shared on pinterest 🙂
Shared on FB. Would love to win a copy of this book.
I pinned it on Pinterest 🙂
Pinned on Pinterest 🙂
Tweeted on Twitter!
Google+’d it (though I don’t know if that counts)
I’d like to read this book as sharing real struggles in marriage has such purpose and is such worship. When we’re willing to bend low and whisper truth.
shared on fb … After reading a couple of reviews about this book over the last day or so, I can say that I am definitely wanting to add this one to my bookshelf – no hubby yet, but doesn’t seem that it’s marriage-specific. So glad you put yourself out there and wrote this book!!! x
I shared, thanks for introducing this book. I’d never heard of her but I’m now subscribed to her blog. Thanks, Nicole
Nicole,
You won the copy of Lara’s book. Email me your address and I’ll have it sent to you!
Congratulations!
YAY
bought the book!!!
Bought the book…so excited to get it in the mail!
Pinned it!
Shared post on twitter 🙂
I tweeted it as well, have to show my support for a fellow north carolina lady.
Tweeted. I have a copy, but would love to have one to share with a friend. Excited about the book club!
FB.
Shared. Love the sounds of this book.
I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/SarilloRojas/status/314179556854616066
Shared on FB.
Tweeted, too.
And pinned, as well.
Pinned, as well.
[…] the book or enter to win a copy over on Lara’s blog, Tracie’s blog, Kat’s blog, or Jennifer’s blog (<–new local blogger I’m stalking […]
Shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/daisydaffodils/status/314562137618001920
Bought the book and would love to give one to a friend so we can read together and have a small group study!
I tweeted! Thanks!!
Shared on Pinterest
Shared on facebook.
Shared on FB. Looks like a great read!
posted on twitter
posted on pinterest
posted on FB
How do you trust again?