Janeen Michael
“Securing God’s love seemed so elusive during that time that I made attempts to cure myself,” Janeen admits. “Unfortunately, I wound up causing myself greater injury as I sought out alternatives that I could intellectually grasp and measure up to. Each substitute for His love that I gathered failed me miserably until I finally answered God’s question to me, ‘Janeen, will you let Me love you?’”
Janeen Michael Q & A
Q: You tell your story of being an abused wife in your book, Journey to Love. Why did you decide to share your story?
A: I honestly never intended to share it but as those years of old journal entries began to take on a narrative form, I was reminded of the grace of God that I experienced through that tough time in my life and as He lifted that heavy burden off of me, it bubbled up and over and compelled me to share.
Q: What do you tell other women who are in abusive marriages?
A: God created you to love you! He did not create you to be a manipulative play toy for another. The issue is not a matter of to divorce or not to divorce but it is a matter of, will you let God love you?
Q: In the book you talk about being “Ish-You” free. What does that mean?
A: “Ish-you” is a term used throughout the book, Journey to Love. It is part acronym and part pronoun and stands for, the imagined state or status that is hampering you from a progressively deepening relationship with the Lord. It basically means that the enemy has engage you in a head game that influences you to doubt God’s love for you. God loves you! No ifs ands or buts about it. Anything that would come against that truth of God’s unconditional love for you, is an Ish-you.
Q: When you were in an abusive relationship, did you ever believe you would become an overcomer?
A: When I was in an abusive relationship, I didn’t believe that I was an overcomer because I was intoxicated by my environment. I was completely disoriented in my ability to see the truth of Christ’s finished work, which unfetters everyone that trust in Him and fills their souls with joy unspeakable! The correlation between freedom and being an overcomer is joy. I believe that freedom is a result of what we do and being an overcomer is a result of who we are. Freedom is realized, within every decision we make, in each of life’s moments. Being an overcomer is realized when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior because it settles our state of being, from now until eternity.
Q: How can people who are oppressed or abused learn to walk in joy?
A: Taking one step at a time in deliberately trusting God with my life, released me from oppression. In doing so, it reoriented my lost vision of His character; ever present and unceasing in His care and love. I can relate to the children of Israel in the time of Nehemiah 8:10-12 who were oppressed but then were filled with joy because they too understood the truth of His Word and witnessed his character. Indeed, “the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold”.
Q: Are pastor's wives in need of ministry and if so, how can the church make room for that?
A: Pastor’s wives need support and one way the church can make room for that is to give the pastor’s wife room. Often, the context of the church provides such a tight, unrealistic box of traditions for her role that she becomes injured as she tries to freely move about or shuts down and decides not to move at all. Truly, however God has made her a helpmeet suitable for her husband, she must be free and supported to do that and yet remain obedient and sensitive to the call that God has placed on her life, as His beloved daughter.
Q: How can people experience a deeper intimacy with the Lord, in their lives?
A: Transparency before the Lord! Worship is our God-given gift and opportunity to revere and show respect to our holy God and draw closer to Him, which cannot be achieved if we are not honest before Him, living lives that are contrary to His Word. The more obedient we are before Him, the deeper intimacy we will experience in our relationship with God. Additionally, it is difficult to receive and enjoy His presence when we’re all covered up. As an example in my serving as a worship leader, it is really heartbreaking to see brothers and sisters singing songs and going through the motions yet seemingly leave “empty” though deeply longing to feel “full” from the worship experience. We are so dependent on God for everything, including our need for His help to draw near, but until we come honest and disrobed, our relationship will always lack intimate depth.