Ohio Couple Saved Their Broken Marriage Thanks to God’s Advice: 'God Can Heal Anything'

A man took his wife on a romantic date to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, where he received the biggest shock of his life. His wife said she had fallen out of love and thought their marriage wasn't working.

Pastor Dave Wilson and Ann's love story began when they were young, but what they learned later in their lives is a lesson to treasure. The couple had known each other since they were teenagers, but they had no idea they would tie the knot one day.

Dave's basketball coach was Ann's father, so he knew her through him. He never interacted with her or thought she was girlfriend material until the day he returned from college and saw her. She looked beautiful, and he couldn't help but fall for her when he learned more about her.

Their Shared Faith in God

Ann was a religious girl who believed in Christ and had a strong faith. When she saw Dave, she thought he was out of her league because most girls liked him, and it didn't seem like religion mattered to him.

However, during a basketball match, Ann realized that she was wrong. She learned that Dave believed in God and was serious about his faith. Meanwhile, Dave was also impressed after learning about Ann's interest in religion.

While Dave was still in college, he was heartbroken after learning his girlfriend cheated. Instead of indulging in another relationship to fix his heart, he turned to God and submitted himself. At that point, he thought Ann could help him strengthen his faith.

Emotional Baggage

Meanwhile, Ann secretly wished God would make her meet Dave again. Soon, the couple started dating and nine months later, tied the knot. Dave was 22 while his wife was 19.

Inside the car, Dave leaned forward to kiss his wife, but she pulled away.

Soon after they began living together, Ann thought she had made the wrong decision by marrying Dave. She had no idea he would start a new chapter of his life without leaving behind his childhood traumas. His parents were not a happy couple, which affected his married life years later.

Their Married Life

Instead of parting ways at the time, the couple made things work and welcomed their first baby six years after their wedding in 1986. Soon, they had two more babies, but their married life again took a turn for the worse.

Since Dave mostly traveled because of his work, Ann had to look after their children singlehandedly. Not having him by her side when she needed him the most made her angry. Soon, they began arguing over little things, but Dave never realized that his married life was going downhill.

Dave thought the measure of the quality of his life was his work, so he never realized that his constant absence at home had drawn him apart from his wife and kids. While he thought his life was going well, Ann had lost her feelings for him.

Their 10th Anniversary

On their 10th wedding anniversary, Dave took his wife on a romantic dinner date. He gave her ten roses―one for every year of their marriage. He also recalled his favorite memories from each year.

While he thought he had planned the best anniversary surprise, his wife thought otherwise. After they left the restaurant, Dave drove her to their middle school parking lot and showed her the place where he had planned to build a new church.

Inside the car, Dave leaned forward to kiss his wife, but she pulled away. "I told Dave I had lost all my feelings for him, that I had nothing left," Ann recalled.

Divine Intervention

Caught unaware, Dave knew he needed to win his wife back and make her believe he loved her, but something strange happened. He suddenly felt God talking to him. Dave heard Him say:

"When I'm first in your life, you will have the power to save this marriage."

At that point, Dave realized God was asking him to change. He believed God wanted him to ask for forgiveness, so he knelt in the little space between the steering wheel and his seat and did what he thought was right.

Asking For Forgiveness

That night, Dave realized he hadn't been paying attention to God and wanted his life to be perfect. Since he was a man of faith, he knew he had to repent before it was too late. He said in his car:

"God, I repent. You were not first in my life. I've messed up my life and my marriage. I'm asking you to help me be the husband I need to be, the dad I need to be, and give me the power to do that. [sic]"

Ann had no idea that her refusal would lead him to repent in the car by kneeling in the limited foot space of the driver's seat. Then she heard God say:

"Ann, you've been trying to find your life through Dave. You've taken your eyes off me. I am the source of life. Your husband was never made to fulfill you. He was never made to meet all of your needs. He’s not to meet all your expectations. That’s God’s job. That’s my job."

After hearing those words, Ann knelt down like her husband and prayed. She asked God for forgiveness and believed that was their turning point.

As a result of that night, Ann and Dave adjusted their expectations and began expecting answers from God instead of each other. As a result, they lived happily and raised their children together without arguing.

The couple hopes their story will help others set their priorities right and live happily with their spouses. They have written two books and now host a podcast called "FamilyLife Today."

We wish the couple all the best in their journey as husband and wife. We hope they will succeed in their mission to inspire other couples.

Click here to read another story about a mom of three who was about to terminate her pregnancy when she received signs from God telling her not to.