Get the Hell Out of Your Marriage

Nate & Michelle Johnson went to hell & back in their marriage. Their testimony is a powerful example of what God can do when we trust Him! This is truly an Ephesians 3:20 story! Michelle writes:

Doctors diagnosed me with ADHD, Bi-polar, chronic depression, personality disorder and schizophrenia. Over the years we battled with so much addiction in both of us, in different forms, at different times. Nate and I have had our road trips to hell and back, that is for sure.  

Our last bout was the enemy’s one last shot to completely destroy our family. Our home life was a mess so my husband spent his time focusing on his work and ministry.

Yes, we were in ministry! He might be failing at home but outside the house he was doing “great things in the Lord.”

I had been overcome by this evil.

I found myself addicted to internet pornography. It became such an intense addiction that I could not break it and it turned into adultery. I had been overcome by this evil but could not break free.

I decided that ending my life would be better than this. Thankfully my family intervened and I was admitted to a mental hospital. From there I went straight into rehab only to get kicked out.

I ended up in a homeless Christian mission that had a recovery program. Amidst my battle and mental torment I fell again and ended up back on the street.

“I will restore you to your family.”

After several weeks the Lord started drawing me back. I didn’t know what deliverance was but I knew I needed to be free.

Nate and I slowly began to be drawn by the Lord to the place of restoration, one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. I was still living on the streets when I found a “Celebrate Recovery” program.

At this point everyone that had been in our lives had pretty much given up on us. The Lord had given Nate a word to “pursue your wife” when it looked the darkest. The Lord also gave me a word that “I will restore you to your family.”

This is where my freedom lies.

We came across a deliverance ministry and something inside me said, “This is it; this is where my freedom lies.”

I also reached out to a local church for help to get my family back. They connected me with Lisa Shea whose marriage was changed through Love & Respect Ministries.

I started going to a “Motivating Your Man God’s Way” ladies group. I was going to learn how to treat my husband. No one had ever taught me that. OH MY it was hard! The respect thing did not come naturally to me and went against everything I believed to be true. Everything on the inside of me screamed “This is SO WRONG” but it was so right because it was what the Lord instructed.

Through many nights of Lisa’s coaching & my small group’s accountability, I applied these principles. I learned that when I did, everything usually ended up the way I wanted it to, even though I was so sure that it wouldn’t.

It’s amazing how we think God’s way won’t work, that our way is better, but God truly knows best. When I obey His word He makes sure that everything works together for the good.

Healed and delivered.

I was on the street for a total of 9 months when I moved back home. I went through deliverance ministry and was healed and delivered from the ADHD, bi-polar, everything that had me bound. I was able to come off all 8 of my medications.

I have been medication free for over 3 ½ years!  Nate and I renewed our vows in 2010. We are moving forward in the restoration process of our family. We’re not perfect, but we are doing what God has called us to do.

I continue to apply the love and respect teaching to my life.  I recently went through “Respectfully Yours” and was able to walk away from that with even more revelation. It’s not a marriage crisis but a crisis of faith.

God is not asking me to do these things because He wants to hurt me but because He loves me. We want to give God all the Glory! We were an impossibility and should not be here today. But God said “NO - this family is mine!”

Thank you, Dr. Emerson and Sarah, for your teaching on love and respect. It is greatly needed in the body of Christ.

We are blessed to share that Nate & Michelle have resumed their ministry. They live in Charlotte, NC with their 3 children.