May 9, 2022
Kimberly Hobbs
We're honored to have you and just the ladies her story. It's
incredible what God has done in this woman's life. So we're talking
about restoration today, and God's grace and His love. So we are
super, super excited to share this with you today. Our hope ladies
through these podcasts is that we are able to strengthen you and
encourage you on your walk as you seek out Jesus every day of your
life. And Ephesians 2:10 says that we are all a masterpiece we are
God's masterpiece created anew in Christ Jesus, to do the very good
things that he planned for us long ago. And we believe ladies that
each and every one of you have a beautiful purpose. And it's our
hope that through listening to these podcasts, that something
inside of it is going to touch your heart deeply. And just allow
you to act upon what you heard and find out that truth and purpose
of what God has for your life. So I want to share a little bit
about Erin before we get started. Erin is a world leader. And she
helps others to pursue better health physically, spiritually, and
relationally. Like she's very successful, and entrepreneurship and
she holds certifications as a health coach, as a marriage coach and
a former personal trainer. She's getting healthy in every area of
her life. And she calls it her jam. Erin and her husband are the
founders of family fit ministries, and they're highly requested
speakers in the area of marriage, which you're going to hear about
today a little about, she's going to bring you into her life a
little bit. Aaron speaks boldly regarding the choices that she made
to leave her marriage and the church in pursuit of the world. Can
any of you relate to that? I know I can't in my life. Yeah, some of
us make choices, not always the right choices. But eight years
later, God would begin to write a different story in Aaron's life,
one of forgiveness and restoration praise him for that. And Aaron
is an inspiration to 1000s through her speaking and social media
platforms. And we are so happy to have her here today to share what
God has done in his grace, restoration in his love for Aaron. So
many of us can relate to straying from that steadfast life of
obedience, which we once lived. As I said, I, I can relate to that
too. I was on the path and feeling like I was that great Christian
person until I veered away. And when we talk about restoration,
which we're going to talk about today, in God's word, it's
synonymous with healing, and repairing or returning to a previous
state of being. Psalm 5112 says, Restore to me the joy of my
salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Aaron, you wandered
far from God and your young life at Bible College and as a wife and
mom of two sweet little girls who I know you love so much. So can
you take us back to those college years when you were that young
wife and young mom, what was going on?
Erin Jeffreys
Yeah, so back it up even a little bit further. I was raised in a
wonderful home Christian home. I had great values around me. And so
I just expected that's how my life would be. I went to Bible
college, I met my husband as a lot of my friends were doing and we
got married in the midst of college. And a couple years after that,
we started a family we started ministry that was our desire. That
was our heartbeat. And so it wasn't like this was a surprise is
something we had prayed for. We knew God wanted us in essence, we
started ministry together. And then shortly after we had two little
girls and everything great, wonderful. You know, I was not at the
time was not serving as heavily in the ministry with him, I was
more at home. And so it was during that season, that I began to
feel a little bit alone. He was here ministering and and I was just
at home, I did not see my children as my ministry at that time. And
when you're alone, and you're not in the Word, and you're not in
prayer, Satan begins to come in. And he began to come into my life
and into my heart, and say things that weren't true about my
husband, that he doesn't love you. He's not paying enough attention
to you, you know, and I will look for nitpicky things around the
home that all of us are not perfect in, but I would look for and
those things will began to fester. And Satan will say, we'll see
he's not doing this. And he's not doing these things. And so he
really doesn't love you. And so this anger, and this bitterness
began to fester in my heart before anything else ever started or
became an issue. It started within my own heart. And I didn't, you
know, I didn't communicate those things to my husband, like, we
weren't communicating. And so it's, that's where the breakdown
started to happen. So if you're listening, the and communication
with you with your husband or your spouse. And so that's where it
started. bitterness and anger. And within that time, Satan brought
someone that looks so much better than my husband, because he had
all these wonderful qualities. So I stepped out of my marriage, I
had an affair. And when my husband found out, he found out without
me telling him I did not leave for the other person, I we just
decided to end it, I figured I was done. Again, Satan feeding you
lies within your heart in your mind that there's got to be
something better than what is here right now. And so I did, I, I
left my marriage looking for that thing, that thing that would make
me feel good inside that the the, the Christian world that I was in
the Bible, I just felt like was not offering me. So I'd be seven
years. I was apart from my husband. And during that first half of
those seven to eight years, I was seeking whatever the world could
give to me in all different avenues. And it was, you know, you hear
those things. Well, why did you do that Satan presents it as a fun
time. And it was I, you know, you look back at those things, and it
appeared fun, and I was enjoying that moment. But then after you
have that guilt, and that shame, especially me stepping into those
things, being a believer, I knew that's not what God had for me.
And so we did we separated, then we finally divorced. And I just
decided that, okay, we're apart, we're divorced, this is my life
now, and I've got to gotta figure it out. And that's kind of where
I just, I didn't even during that time, I even questioned whether
God was real. You know, I grew up believing that and knowing that,
but in this season, I thought, Is God even real? How is he real? If
all of this is happening to me? And all these bad things are going
on now? Like, how is God even real? Why did he allow me to even get
married? Or? And I just began to question so I, you know, just
decided that maybe God wasn't real, and that I would just have to
figure life out on my own. So I, that's where I started. I said,
Well, I'm getting divorced, final, and I'm just going to move
forward and figure it out. And that's kind of where, where I
started after that. About three and a half years of just, you know,
Satan really taking his toll on my life, my mind and my heart.
Kimberly Hobbs
Right, and you open that door to the devil having that rain in your
life. And you soured against things of the Lord, because of the
lies that you believed. And so you started into that prison, the of
just being trapped into where the enemy wanted you to be trapped.
And that's a scary place to be ladies, I'm sure you can relate to
it. When are you just you fall into temptation? You know, you
shouldn't be going there. And then the next thing you do is you
wake up and you're in this this misery you're in that pit that you
seem like you can't get out of and that's where Aaron was, I mean,
she just started she was just so wandered so far. But God, when you
belong to him, he is not going to let you wander far from him.
He'll he'll let you go to a certain point but he's going to bring
you back and Aaron He brought you back through people that did not
judge you. They loved you. They wrap their arms around you, they
showed you God's love, without judgment. And think about this,
ladies, if you're in that place where you know somebody that's
wandered away from, you know where they're supposed to be, and you
know that you can condemn them all day long. They know what they're
doing God's convicting them, but it takes a special person that can
show the love of God, and the forgiveness to bring them back. So
God softens your heart to come back to even step foot in a church
again, and I want to share this verse. Brothers and sisters, if
someone is caught in sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore
that person gently. That's Galatians six, one. Can you talk about
how important that was to you, Erin, that people loved you back
in?
Erin Jeffreys
Yeah, that was really pivotal. And a key time in my life. I had
really sworn off the church, like, I'm not going to church anymore.
I felt like it. It felt like the church destroyed my life at that
time. That was what I was blaming it on. And so I really wanted
nothing to do with it. But God began to use people in my life. And
they initially came to where I was, it wasn't like they were
pulling me in their direction of where they were with God, they
came and met me at my place. With love and without judgment. And
just invited me would invite me to church not beating me over the
head, or maybe just send me an encouraging word or a text or, Hey,
look at this IRA. This is pretty cool. Or sometimes not even always
about a Bible verse just loving me as a friend, because a lot of
these people were my friends before. And so he continued to love
me, in spite of what I knew was wrong, what they knew was wrong.
And then God soften my heart enough. Someone asked me one day, just
come, come and sit, come and sit with me. Come late, leave early.
Just Just come with me. I want you to come in. And I mean, and so
that's what I did. And God began, I just remember that service, God
began to say, like, what are you doing? What are you doing with
your life now? Didn't change in an instant. But that's where I
remember God, just saying, like, what's going on? Who are you? At
Did you for a purpose and a plan and you're not listening to me,
and I'm not but why like what is going on. So God began to use that
even in that moment, on that very first service that I stepped
back, and it can happen outside of a service. So anybody listening,
don't feel like you have to be in church to, to forgot to speak to
you. But that's where...
Kimberly Hobbs
And praise God for that friend that just loved you enough to love
you to come back to church with her and offer that. And then God
did the rest. Right? He did. And in just like urine said, ladies,
he can reach us all in different ways. Whatever we're going
through, it could be a person that reaches out to you, you might
step foot in somewhere and see a sign. And that speaks to you.
God's going to get your attention in ways that he will. And you're
going to know it. You're going to if you belong to the Lord Jesus
Christ, he's not going to let you wander far. You're going to know
it, and he's going to bring you back to the fold. And he did that
with Aaron, praise God for that. And ladies, remember, again, you
might be that person or that one that God's going to say he's going
to use you in someone else's life to bring them back to him. We
don't want to have judging spirits. We want to embrace them with
love, just like our father does so beautifully for us. So Aaron, as
you got stronger, things became very clear to you and God began and
pressing things on your heart. I want to share another scripture
because as we know there is power in the Word. And this Scripture
has come. Let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but
he will heal us. He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds.
You learned a lot through those years. Aaron, when you were by
yourself and you were in that prison. That's what was he a six one
Aeron chair about David coming back into your thoughts how when you
started to seek God out again, for your life. God started putting
David back into your thoughts and your children. Were asking you
pivotal questions at that time that got your attention. focus back
on David. Can you bring nose up and share with us?
Erin Jeffreys
Yeah. You know, initially, it wasn't David, when I began to really
seek out God and get in alignment with his word. I said, I want to
be married again, like, I want to have a husband, I want to have a
good father for my I have to I had two young daughters at the time.
And so that's what I began praying about. I began seeking that out
praying for that. And during that time, towards the end of that
season, as I was praying, I would receive text messages from David
Orr. In reaching out, he was the one honestly in pursuit of me. And
I remember oftentimes, like pushing that aside, and then saying,
God, I'm praying for a husband like, why is he messaging me wise? I
could feel him in pursuit of me. And then God said, it's David. And
that's how Oh, no, it can't be like that's, that's over. That's
done. There's too much past there's too much history that's not
restorable. And at that point, and not bathe, and that could even
be possible. But he, David stayed in constant pursuit. And he used
him. And then he also use my children. We share this a lot that we
don't know. I mean, God can do great things. But they were a
pivotal piece and David and mines restoration, they would
constantly ask questions like, What is it like to be in a house
with with a mom and a dad because they were little like, my no one
when we not even one when we separated. And so they didn't know
that. And then you know, they would, later on, we would find out
notes that they had written of where they had been praying for us
to get back together this something that they gave us after things
were restored. So God used them. And it also kept me in alignment
with with him. He said, If you're going to be the mom that I want
you to be, then you've got to do these things, Aaron, whether
you're single, or whether you're restore your marriage. And so I
didn't, when we began to pursue I still didn't know was God's going
to restore. But that in the end, that necessarily didn't matter. It
was about my relationship with God pursuing him being where I was
the best at that moment. How was created in that moment in that
season as a single mom, having the faith that he would restore, but
But what if God chose something different? Would I be okay with
that I'm really learning to understand, Okay, I'm going to be
satisfied and pleased with what God what God's plan is for, for my
life. So,
Kimberly Hobbs
Wow, wow, wow, you had to really reunite with God again, you had to
get that relationship with Him solidified. And then he can do the
work and restore what the locusts have stolen. And oh, my goodness,
you have this life together now with your husband, Aaron, after so
many years, you were divorced for eight years. And God began
showing you as a couple now many ways, which the enemy meant for
harm, you guys were able to see that and see how God turned it
around to restore to restore it. And now you're this power couple.
And God restored. Also the shame and guilt because I know Aaron,
you are here to sharing with me that you experience extreme shame
and guilt when you were first re united with David, can you talk
about that shame and guilt? Because I know others could probably
really relate to this part.
Erin Jeffreys
Yeah. Yeah. You know, you said, God can restore what the locust has
eaten. And those were key verses that David and I claimed for our
marriage when we got remarried on day one. And if you look at that,
that those verses is actually Joel 225 through 32. And it talks
about God restoring the years, which we had eight years of when it
was taken away. But then it goes into if you read that whole
passage, he talks about at the end, how you will be able to eat
plenty you will be satisfied and about how your life can be
abundant in Christ. And so that we claim those verses Amen. Me an
easy road. And, you know, I was the one who stepped out. So for me,
I was dealing with a lot more shame and guilt. And my husband was,
he said, from day one, God is going to use this we have a ministry
like, you know, we got back from our honeymoon. He's like, let's
go. And I brought in a lot of shame and a lot of guilt. For so many
years, I was able to almost set that aside because I wasn't with
the person who I had offended. And so then when we were reunited it
just came back full right in front of my face. Like I was with
David. I woke up to him every day. And, you know, the devil would
say, Look, you know, you did this to him. So, yeah, God restored
our marriage. But then God said, Well, if I've restored our
marriage, and she, this is reunited, I'm gonna work in the way that
I can keep her defeated. And so it was with shame, and guilt. Wow.
Yeah. And so it took me probably, I would say, about a year and a
half to really, really let that go and let Christ take dominion
over that in my life. It was through, you know, prayer scripture,
I, I did counseling as well. I worked at it. It wasn't like it just
automatically poof went away. God gave me the tools and I applied
those tools to my life.
Kimberly Hobbs
Amen. Amen. I have to share this verse. Because this is like so
cool. Ladies, if you're listening in and you are feeling that shame
and guilt in a situation because of your past sin, Okay, God, God
doesn't want you trapped there and that shame and guilt, and Aaron
can identify with you because she was waking up to that man, and
she felt horrible about what she was doing to him, you know, and
also God, so shame and guilt is real. But the Bible says, instead
of your shame, you will receive a double portion and instead of
disgrace, you will receive your inheritance. And so you will
inherit a double portion in your land and everlasting joy will be
yours, Isaiah 61. Seven, how beautiful is that scripture about
restoration, God will take away that that shame and that guilt,
he's going to give you a double portion for keep looking to him
when you're feeling those pings of shame and guilt, because they
still come over all of us, they still come over me like God, how
did I hurt you so bad in my life? I mean, it makes me want to
vomit. You know, when I think about what I did, to God and others,
you know, that love to me, but it's like, Oh, my goodness, the
through His scriptures, there's healing it, just like I know, you
feel that healing to Aaron. So now God's placed both of you, in a
way to minister to the world as a beautiful restored couple. The
Scripture says, for everyone born of God overcomes the world, that
sin that enticed you, you were able to overcome it, because you had
the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, Aaron. And
then he says, this is the victory that has overcome the world, even
our faith. First John five, four. So God gave both of you and David
restoration and your faith was restored back in, in the Lord. So
how did he bring you back into a new way as a married couple to
serve him together again?
Erin Jeffreys
Yeah, so like I said, David had a vision from the very beginning.
He he knew he's, he is a visionary, I will just say that. And so he
sees things. And I said, Well, you know, I was at that time, I was
dealing with the shame and the guilt, and Satan was using that. But
even during that time, David was praying because he knew God didn't
create, bring us back together and go through all that just to,
here we are, we're married again. He knew God had a purpose for us.
And as a married woman, I thought, you know, the first time I was
married, I thought I was just to be a wife. Not that that's a bad
thing that has a purpose, we're called to. But we're also an
individual, God created us, each woman for a purpose. And so when I
let go of that shame and guilt, and knew that Christ accepted me as
I was, in that moment, no matter what I had done in my past, I was
able to really love David, the way a wife should. And then we began
to unite, I was able to let that shame and guilt go and we began to
share our story publicly. And God has began to use that so
mightily, in ways that I just never even thought thought were
possible.
Kimberly Hobbs
Amen, amen. And now, the two of you have come together as not only
you know, physical coaches because you are coaching in in faith fit
which Aaron's going to share with you her website, but spiritually
as marriage coaches Now God has called you to this position in our
world where you are able to help coach and direct other marriages
that may be struggling. And God says He works things all together
for Are his purpose to those who are called according to His
purpose. And you both had a calling on your life, when you were in
Bible college, God knew that. And you accepted Him as your Lord and
Savior. Now look at what he's doing, you went through all of that
learning, and you are able to pour into others about what you went
through what to share, not to do, but what to share restored you
and that's so beautiful. And that's God's grace, and his love for
each and every one of us. He's gonna give us the tools. And Aaron
and her husband are beautiful marriage coaches, and that's the
beauty and women world leaders as God has given us. Such beautiful
women that could coach and counsel and things that we need here. So
we encourage you definitely to utilize some of these women that are
powerful in the Word of God. And so Aaron, what advice can you
leave with the listeners who may be in a broken relationship, or a
broken marriage, or the hurting woman who might be divorced already
and think there's no hope for her? What? What advice can you give,
I want to share one more verse, Because the Scripture says,
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. And the
old has gone and the new is here. That's Second Corinthians 517. So
as this new creation, Erin, speak to the woman that's hurting right
now.
Erin Jeffreys
So first of all, do not listen to the world, that will be my first
piece of advice. If you are hurting, you can get exactly what you
need from your unsaved friends from the world from you can get the
advice you need to make a decision that you can feel comfortable
with in your own self. That's what I did. And that's why one of the
reasons why I divorced David, because everyone said that I was
listening to this is what people do. This is what the world does.
So don't listen to the world get alone with God. What is he telling
me to do? What is he telling you to pray for? That's first second,
don't lose hope. First Peter, one, three and four says in his great
mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope, through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. So if you're a
believer, you have that hope that he's given you. He's created you
a new creature, you're going to be in Heaven with Him one day. But
what about the hope for your marriage? Are you praying for that
hope that restored marriage do you have hope that God can restore
that, so pray for that. And then love, like God tells you to love
and Colossians 312 And Ephesians 432 Love with a tender heart or
forgiving spirit? That's hard to do if you've been hurt or
offended. But that only comes from the Spirit of God. Through
prayer, reading His word, I, when I was going through those periods
of shame and guilt, I would say scripture out loud, letting my ears
hear it, letting Satan hear it, claiming those over my life. That
that is there's power there. And so many times As believers, we
have that initial, you know, we become a believer, we're excited.
And then we lose hope and faith in the things that we need for God
to restore in our lives specifically, right now we're talking about
marriage, but he can, he can do mighty things, and I've seen him do
it in my life. So don't and don't listen to the world. Listen to
what what what's God telling you to do?
Kimberly Hobbs
Amen. And you know, on the other side of this, that was a good
word, Aaron, hope and restoration and the power of the Word of God.
The other side of it is you know, David, David forgave, he forgave
you, you know, that's hard to do. Ladies, when you think about
that, you know, she was she had an affair in her relationship. And
those of you out there that are listening that can relate to being
wounded. From something so devastating as an affair, David forgave
and he continued to love her. For all those years that she was
wandering in the wilderness, they were already divorced. But he
remained faithful and true to the Lord. And he prayed and he just,
he continued with what God was calling him to do. And wow, you
know, think about that. I don't know what side of the fence you are
on ladies that are listening. You could be the wounded one or you
could be the one that offended but think about the forgiving heart
that it takes to have the restoration. And because we have a
forgiving God who forgives us, ladies, we have to forgive as well.
It's all about forgiveness. If We can't forgive how do we expect
God to forgive us when we mess up? So think about that. And thank
God, thank God for this power couple that has been restored through
the power of forgiveness. You know God's grace and love the love of
others that didn't judge that welcomed Aaron back into the family
of God and loved her back into the family of God there. There's so
much in this whole podcast ladies of forgiveness, love restoration
on all sides, all of us who are listening can learn from this. So
thank you, Aaron, you are restored, you have been given grace by
God and loved so much by him. And I am so grateful that you took
the time to share with our listeners, can you tell them if they
want to reach out to you as a marriage coach now with your husband?
You're doing coaching all over the United States? Thank the Lord
for zoom and, and also some other things with your fitness and how
do they reach you?
Erin Jeffreys
Yeah, so if you want to reach me, you can go to family fit
ministries.com. Or you can find family fit ministries on Facebook,
or you can search me out personally, Erin Jeffries on Facebook. So,
yeah.
Kimberly Hobbs
Amen. Thank you. Thank you. And so again, we just love having
guests on ladies. And we just pray that if you have been touched by
this podcast that you will share it that you will tell others about
it. Hey, listen in, it's not gonna hurt to listen in, right. So as
we close, I just want you to know that these powerful podcasts are
available to you every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We have
teaching through the word of God on Wednesdays with one of our
teaching leaders, Julie Jenkins. And we also have celebrating God's
grace every Friday. And we have different women in the ministry
that share their gifts and talents to encourage you into the
weekend. And then of course, every Monday we have the interviews
that we do with different women from around the world that that God
brings in with their stories, and you might have a story. Reach out
to us if you do, you can reach out to me personally at Kimberly at
women world leaders.com If you feel God prompting you to share your
story on these podcasts, because women can relate when they hear
other women share about stories. And this is a safe place. And God
has given us this ability to speak to the world through these
podcasts. So please reach out to us if you feel God prompting you
to share your story. We'd love to hear from you. And one other
thing I want to share with you is our voice of Truth magazine.
Ladies, you can reach this honor. And and through our website
anywhere around the world, it's available digitally. And if you're
in the United States, it's available free. We just need your name,
address and email address and that you can sign up through our
website at women world leaders.com. So we would love you to have
this amazing tool of voice of Truth magazine. It's beautiful,
filled with Scripture and inspiration. And we're sure that this
will touch your hearts ladies to amazing heights because it
contains the power of the Word of God and that scripture throughout
the ladies as we close from his heart to yours. We are women world
leaders all content is copyrighted by women world leaders and
cannot be used without expressed written consent. God bless you
all. Thank you again Aaron Jeffries for joining us and hopefully
ladies you'll join us on Wednesday for our teaching podcast have a
beautiful and blessed day.