As many of you know, my hubby Gary and I have wanted to get our house ready to put on the market for quite some time (we’re empty-nesters who desperately need to downsize).

So I pulled away from “everything”—including blogging—for the month of June to get our house in shape for that big day that I optimistically believed might be July 1st.

After moving basically a “mountain” of stuff and getting a LOT of things done and ready, I still feel like there is at least a portion of that mountain (molehill?) that needs to be dealt with and worked on before we place our house on the market.

So we are readjusting to the more realistic date of March 1, 2017 and taking a more acceptable pace with the remaining unfinished projects until then.

But I have to say . . .

Who knew that when one worker bee (that would be me!) focuses on getting her actual homestead in shape that God would do major reorganizing, decluttering, and purging in my “worker-bee” heart as well? 😉

There is so much that I could share about my experience and heart change in this post, but it might overwhelm us both. So I think I’ll try to take a more slow, deliberate, and thoughtful approach to it over the weeks ahead—unpacking in bite-sized measures.

One of the first things God brought to my attention was that I have let an area of conflict in my life (Not my marriage this time! Shoo!) take over and cloud much of my energy, focus, and devotion.

I’ve ruminated on this conflict for years. I’ve wrestled with God regarding this dilemma and often wondered why God was not bringing a swift and at least easier resolution to it on many occasions. Can you relate?

But God has used the slowness and the lack of movement in this relational impasse to gradually and penetratingly soften my hard heart—pointing me ever so sweetly back to my own sinful contributions and wayward focus. #Godisgood

So that’s where I want to head in the weeks to come . . . looking at how to let the Lord soften a hard heart.

[bctt tweet=”If you come along with me, a soft heart can be yours as well through the Lord’s gentle touch. That’s something we ALL need in every relationship, especially our marriages! ” username=”BethSteffaniak”]

And to me, a soft heart means a humble heart—something that I am much too far from most moments in my day.

In fact, the moment that I think I am getting close to a humble, soft heart is usually the moment that I drift and do something foolish and self-centered instead of God-focused. I’m always weaker than I realize! 

If you’re like me, and I suspect that you are, come by next time for another post in this series, Soft Heart in Marriage.

What are some unexpected lessons you’ve learned during any times you’ve “pulled away” from normal life?

What do you think a “soft heart” looks like in the hard times of marriage?

Joining with my friends at Giving Up on Perfect, A Little R & R Wednesdays, Mondays @ Soul Survival, Coffee and Conversation, Coffee for Your Heart, Sitting Among Friends, Nanahood, Moments of Hope, Family, Friendship and Faith, DanceWithJesusFriday and Wholehearted Wednesday.

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