Lisa Barry: Have you ever been tempted to think that God isn't powerful enough to help you? Or maybe you've concluded it's not God's power that's the problem, but He's just not interested in helping you?

Today on Gateway To Joy, Elisabeth Elliot is going to read the testimony of a woman whose marriage was in shambles. Her heart was cold and so was her husband's. Does there come a time in a marriage when even a miracle won't help? You'll find out as we continue with our series entitled, "Peace Comes Through Obedience." Here's Elisabeth.

Elisabeth Elliot: "You are loved with an everlasting love." That's what the Bible says, "and underneath are the everlasting arms." This is your friend, Elisabeth Elliot, talking with you today about some wonderful, transformed marriages.

This lady writes and calls her paper, "The Wild Blue Yonder":

"If anyone had told me 14 years ago that I would be here speaking to you about my husband becoming the spiritual head of our home, I would not even have known what that meant. But here I am, by God's grace in my life and the life of our family. Before I go much further, I want to emphasize that I know that God, through my Savior Jesus Christ, did this redemptive work. I do not deserve any credit for what He did. I hope that the way in which I recount this incredible miracle will keep the focus where it belongs--on Jesus.

"The story of Dave and me began back in college where we met. We got married before he was admitted to medical school. As the years rolled by, we climbed the ladder of success. By the time we were 35, we appeared to have it all--a M.D., two beautiful children, a new home and a Porsche parked in our driveway.

"For me, there had always been a search for something spiritual and by this time I had settled on a wild concoction of Eastern religion mingled with Christianity. For David, well, he told me he felt empty. He told me he wanted a divorce. This happened in the middle of us moving from San Antonio, Texas, to Seattle, Washington. I had a lot to think about as I drove with the children across the country.

"As I headed off in my van, I only saw what was wrong with Dave. I was absolutely sure that the only person who needed to change was he. Ironically, Jesus had something very radical in mind for me. He was going to take me for the ride of my life into the 'wild blue yonder.'

"I was about to leave the ground I knew so well and fly off into a space unknown, the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus buckled me up and this gentle Flight Instructor began to teach me the lessons that I have come to understand are useful to any believing wife. I invite you to come along on my 'check ride.'

"The first thing that had to be crossed off, was my hard heart. In the past, when things didn't go my way, I would justify myself and do what pleased me, but this was different. I was alone and unable to maneuver the result I desired. I did not know it at the time, but it was the work of the Holy Spirit which softened and broke me.

"It's interesting to note here that David did not believe I felt sorry. He assumed that my motive was to manipulate him. I think that, just like God hardened Pharaoh's heart in Exodus, he hardened Dave's heart so that there would be no quick, worldly fix for us. Many of those days were spent in tears. Dave came and went and I became very panicky and distraught.

"As I took my two children to the school bus one day, I turned to a complete stranger standing there and I sobbed to her, 'Have you ever had marital problems?'

"Of course, according to plan, this woman was a Christian. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. We were sitting at her kitchen table later, when she suggested that we study Genesis and John. She told me to start by reading aloud Genesis 1:1. I read, 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.' The scales fell off my eyes! The living water that I had so thirsted for saturated my soul. It was through the Word that I began the journey of surrender and obedience to Jesus.

"The second check on my list was to read, believe and live the Word. The most astounding revelation came almost immediately since I studied Genesis first. It was the truth about the relationship of man to woman. I read in Genesis 2:18 that I was to be a helper. I contrasted that concept of helping with the controlling that I had practiced.

"Then in Genesis 2:23, it said I was made out of man, close to his heart. I compared this heart relationship to how I had come to be more like my husband's head than his heart. In Genesis 2:24, I was instructed to leave my father and mother. I thought about how I had more allegiance to my parents and their ways than to my own husband. Finally, I read that we were to become one flesh. I remembered the times I was unwilling to be one flesh with my husband. I knew I had a lot of changing to do.

"Sid, my Christian mentor, gathered together a Bible study and prayer group for me. I know this was a key factor in my ability to rely on Jesus and obey His Word. This third check of having a regular prayer/Bible study is vital for anyone who is struggling in any way.

"Although David and I lived together, the marriage we had was cold and dead. But this was when I came to my fourth checkpoint. I took Jesus as the husband I needed. As I read through Song of Solomon, I knew I was that peasant girl, not outstanding to anyone but to her lover.

"Regularly I received 'baskets of flowers,' as I came to call them, from my Savior. They are so personal it is difficult to describe them. Sometimes a sunset wrapped up in pink for me. Once, drops of dew on a gate, laced beautifully in the sun. They are those things which Psalm 42:7 refers to--'Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls. All your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day, the Lord directs His love. At night His song is with me.'

"The fifth check, being thankful in everything, I found by the trial-and-error method. It happened while studying 1 Thessalonians 5:18--'Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you Christ Jesus.' I could see that I was not doing this verse. It was that 'thanks in all circumstances' that threw me.

"Did this really mean the things I didn't like? I decided to try thanking God for the hard things that He had given me. This was a transforming move. Jesus gave back for this simple sacrifice more than I can express. We became more intimate in our fellowship and He poured out His power in me to be more consistently in His will.

"The sixth check came unexpectedly. It was praying with specifics so that Jesus could reveal His will. At one point, Dave wanted to move out and get an apartment. This was very upsetting to me, so I took the situation to my Bible study. They prayed that somehow this would not happen. Several days later, Dave announced to me that he could not find an apartment in the city of Seattle. 'They all had orange carpeting,' he explained. Jesus knew he hated orange.

"That incident was closely related to my wondering whether I should just give up on my marriage. I was getting some advice to forget it and move on, and often this sounded like a great escape route. I was very torn, but the Lord presented me with His counsel in Malachi 2:16--'"I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel.' Then with great interest I read 1 Corinthians 7:13--'And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.'"

"The seventh check on the list was I had to relinquish my husband to my Savior. This meant I had to release him after years of a tight grip on him. This was difficult. I tried with all my might. Several times a day I would visualize bringing Dave to the cross on Calvary and leaving him there alone. I would walk away. At some point I had enough peace to ask Dave if he wanted to leave. I was resigned to letting him go. He stayed. The checks came so fast after that, they were almost indistinguishable.

"Check eight was my own repentance. As I let go of my husband more, I began to resent that he didn't change. I thought the magic bullet had been letting him go. I figured, I do this, God will do that, but there did not come a renewing of love between Dave and me just yet. I felt rejected. I felt sorry for myself. That's when I realized that I, myself, had for so many years rejected the greatest love of all, and that kind of love asks for nothing in return.

"The next, ninth check became obvious. I must wait. Romans 6:23 fell like bricks before me--'The wages of sin are death.' My mind turned back over the sins in my life. I was confronted with the memories. I should have died. I realized that I had escaped not only death, but many of the consequences I deserved. My Jesus had patiently waited. He wished that none should perish. He suffered for me because He loved me. Surely my suffering was so much less.

"Finally, check ten. I must forgive as I had been forgiven. Even though I didn't feel like it, I knew it was what I must do. I really believed that if I willed to do this, it would be done."

I'll continue with this tomorrow.

Lisa Barry: What an incredible testimony! It was obvious that, humanly speaking, hers was an impossible situation. Maybe you feel that way too. But the great news is that with God all things are possible.

Now maybe you're listening today and saying, "I believe God helped that woman, but I'm too tired to even ask for help. In fact, I'm not sure I even want it." God knows you're tired and weary. He says, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden; I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28).

He wants to strengthen your weakness, and a great starting point is Elisabeth's book, On Asking God Why. This is Spiritual Muscle Building 101. It's a fortifier and it could be the very thing you need. We're making this book available to you today when you ask for it. And we would like to suggest a donation of $8 for that resource.

Here's our phone number, toll-free: 1-800-759-4JOY. That's 1-800-759-4569.

You're also welcome to send correspondence to: Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, NE 68501. On the Web, we're at: gatewaytojoy.org. Gateway To Joy is a listener-supported production of Back to the Bible.

We'll hear the conclusion to that incredible testimony tomorrow, so be sure and join us then for the next Gateway To Joy.