Being Made New: The Whole Family by Lane Betz

Hi, my name is Lane Betz. I have been married to my best friend and husband Buster for 28 years.  We have four wonderful children who are totally sold out to serving God!  We have a daughter Ashley, son-in-law Drew, a son Matt and daughter-in-law Regina.  We all attend Church of the Highlands in Huntsville and my daughter and her husband attend in Auburn. I am so in love with God for a family that has been totally restored and made new in Him.  After developing my new relationship in Christ from attending church and many women’s and couples small groups, my heart is to help other families attain this restoration in Christ too. God has used my incredibly difficult trial of marriage restoration to minister to many women who are going through the same thing. It is my prayer that my story will minister to others who may be in the same situation.  I pray that men and women will begin to know that divorce is not their only option. We need to know we serve a God who can and does heal and restore marriages and families everyday.  I would love to pray with you or minister to you if you find your family in this situation.

Being Made New: The Whole Family

I grew up always attending church and being involved in church activities.  My Mom was the spiritual leader of our family.  My Dad was always working so my Mom raised us by herself.

Because we attended church I always knew right from wrong and felt very condemned about things I should not do. Looking back, I never had a true relationship with God.  This continued my whole life until I was an adult.

I married for a second time in my 20’s and just continued to think going to church on Sunday was enough.  My life consisted of wearing a mask on Sunday and doing what I wanted the other days.

My second marriage had problems from the start of it.  Those problems continued throughout it off and on until one day it completely fell apart.  We had chosen to do nothing different to fix it.

Our kids were, one in their freshman year of college, and one in high school.  Definitely ages for problems to start with them.  They had and we were so out of touch ourselves we truly had no idea.

However during this time I did try to pray and change but nothing would happen.  We would end up right back where we were.   I will say I knew God was pursuing me but I was refusing to listen or change. It is nice that our God NEVER gives up on us!!!!

We seemed like the perfect family on the outside but our lives were a mess.

The Last Straw:

The weekend before our marriage took its last turn for the worse I had been at the beach with our daughter.  The Lord was really on my mind.  I laid in bed the day before we were to come home and thought, “I have got to change and put my husband and family first.” However God had a different plan to change me.

That weekend when I got home, I found out there was infidelity in my marriage. I fell apart! I can’t tell you how broken I was.  It was hard to breathe, stand up straight, much less think.  I felt HORRIBLE!

Next step for me:

I knew I had to run to God for my help. His timing had been perfect because, just the few days before, He had put on my heart – you have to change and fix your marriage.
I called my pastor and went to his house and got on my knees and prayed the prayer of salvation.  This time it really meant something to me!

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come.  The old has gone the new is here.  (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

Jesus answered him.  Truly truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

Now, my pain did not disappear and my marriage was not immediately healed.  I began to attend women’s small groups and church and immediately developed a huge hunger for God’s word in my life.  My days were consumed with spending time in God’s word.

How God Works:

God sent me a woman I never knew to be a part of my marriage restoration.  This woman had been through the same thing with her marriage and was an amazing woman of God.  She had believed in faith for God to restore her marriage and He did.  I wanted this too.  I had never heard of this before, but I knew I wanted this for my marriage and family.  I had thought my only option was the divorce my husband wanted.  Jessica encouraged me many, many days to stand and fight in faith for my marriage.  She taught me the character and faith of our God.  During this trial was when my love affair with God really started in my life.

My Stand:

Papers were filed for divorce.  I denied them through my attorney based on my word from God. I continued to grow in my relationship with the Lord through attending ladies’ small groups and church. I did doubt and lose hope many times during this long 15 months to my marriage being restored.  But God was always faithful!  He continued to give me hope along the way with His word or encouragement from another  person in Christ.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

The Ending:

We still have a God who does miracles and who can and will restore marriages!!!  God did bring my husband home the day the Judge would have signed off the divorce papers in court.

I want to end by saying my marriage is better than it has ever been. God did not stop there.  He restored a life in my children who passionately love Him and serve Him daily in their lives.  God can and will give you a double blessing for our former trouble.
My prayer is for any of you reading this to know that there is another option for your marriage besides divorce.  Our God heals and allows forgiveness in all our hearts.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Forget the former  things do not dwell on the past, see I am doing a new thing. (Isaiah 43: 18-19)

There is so much more to this story that pointed to God that it would take me too long to write. However, if I can ever help you please contact me at bbetz@knology.net

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2nd Corinthians 1:3-4)

Tags: Church of the Highlands, hope for marriage, jesus, lane betz, marriage restoration, Our City On A Hill, overcoming infidelity, testimony