08/10
Nothing can Separate
God hates divorce. That might sound blunt and a bit discomforting, but God cannot be in the presence of sin and anything that is outside His design is not pleasing to Him. God is a God of covenant and the Bible is clear that marriage is intended by God to be a covenantal relationship that is unbroken.
Yet God is full of grace. Scripture reminds us that He loved us even as we were entrenched in things contrary to His design. He also desires to mend, heal, redeem and refine, and lovingly meets us even in the midst of the most difficult places in our lives. In fact, He went to the cross to do just that (Romans 5:8).
I can bet if you are in the process of getting a divorce or have experienced divorce you can relate to the painful aspects associated with separation. It can cut deeper than we knew possible and can leave us feeling alone, lost and hurting. During this time of pain we can twist that statement to say God hates divorce and therefore He will turn away from anyone who makes that decision. That is not true, God loves you. Nothing we could do could separate us from His love, just take a look at what Paul says in Romans 8:31-39!
You may also be questioning, where is God in my suffering? Does Jesus see the tears I have shed as I navigate this loss? The answer to that question is found in scripture. Psalm 34:19, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.” How encouraging that God’s infallible Word reminds us that while we suffer on this Earth, He has not left us and promises to rescue us. Although our emotions may lead us down thought patterns of despair, God has given us the ability to encourage ourselves up in the truth of His word. We are called to do the practical and He has promised to rescue us when we trust obediently in Him.
What do the practical things God has called me to do look like? Some examples include, reading the Bible and spending intentional time with the Lord, seeking the wise counsel of a Christ-like friend or professional counselor, being planted in the local church, etc. While we do not partake in these practices as a means of striving, we are reminded of their importance so that we can partner in the fight for our healing. It is important to be honest with God in your thought life and to wrestle with the questions that you may have, but it is more important that we do not live out the rest of our lives stuck in those questions. We can be assured that as we draw close to Jesus, He will rescue us, heal our hearts, and bring peace to our minds.
Yet God is full of grace. Scripture reminds us that He loved us even as we were entrenched in things contrary to His design. He also desires to mend, heal, redeem and refine, and lovingly meets us even in the midst of the most difficult places in our lives. In fact, He went to the cross to do just that (Romans 5:8).
I can bet if you are in the process of getting a divorce or have experienced divorce you can relate to the painful aspects associated with separation. It can cut deeper than we knew possible and can leave us feeling alone, lost and hurting. During this time of pain we can twist that statement to say God hates divorce and therefore He will turn away from anyone who makes that decision. That is not true, God loves you. Nothing we could do could separate us from His love, just take a look at what Paul says in Romans 8:31-39!
You may also be questioning, where is God in my suffering? Does Jesus see the tears I have shed as I navigate this loss? The answer to that question is found in scripture. Psalm 34:19, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.” How encouraging that God’s infallible Word reminds us that while we suffer on this Earth, He has not left us and promises to rescue us. Although our emotions may lead us down thought patterns of despair, God has given us the ability to encourage ourselves up in the truth of His word. We are called to do the practical and He has promised to rescue us when we trust obediently in Him.
What do the practical things God has called me to do look like? Some examples include, reading the Bible and spending intentional time with the Lord, seeking the wise counsel of a Christ-like friend or professional counselor, being planted in the local church, etc. While we do not partake in these practices as a means of striving, we are reminded of their importance so that we can partner in the fight for our healing. It is important to be honest with God in your thought life and to wrestle with the questions that you may have, but it is more important that we do not live out the rest of our lives stuck in those questions. We can be assured that as we draw close to Jesus, He will rescue us, heal our hearts, and bring peace to our minds.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How do you currently view your relationship with God and how can you seek to spend more intentional time with Him this week? What are some practical next steps you can take in your healing journey? Write them down.