Divorce and remarriage - healing
Posted by: lthornburg <lthornburg@...>
I hope I didn't come across harshly. My post was not meant to come across
as a general judgment across the board. I am by no means a bible scholar
and I struggle daily to know more and more. This man was just very
condemning and VERY hurtful. I just don't understand where he is coming
from. I completely understand that God hates divorce. However, I don't
understand that there is nothing he hates more. Sin is sin. However, I
stand firm in my belief that God forgives and so should we. I don't mean to
question anyone's beliefs. I simply just do not understand the
justification for them. 🙂 Now if someone would please set me straight on
this I would be more than respectful to listen and see what God has for me
to understand!
I must tell you that the first 7 years of my marriage were not nice. I was
not a believer when we married, but about a year after. I was young. My
husband had a horrid temper. Let me also say that I say this with full
blessing of my husband. I share this only to give other encouragement. My
husband hit me on more than one occasion. It was horrible. I could provoke
him really good too. I am not saying that there is an excuse for a husband
to hit his wife, but I had my share in what was going on. I was trying to
help him move to God at all. Then one night it all came to a head. We
split. It was the most lonely and terrifying time...for both of us. I had
two small boys and they had seen it all. I cried a lot. Then I slowly
turned to God. We had attended church on Sunday's and such. But we didn't
have a relationship with God. We were two lost people in the world..and
angry. I knew I didn't want a divorce but that I couldn't stay the way it
was. Something had to change and after years of trying to cajole and
manipulate my husband into changing I decided that I couldn't do that...only
God could make it happen. I totally stopped focusing on my husband and his
relationship to God. I started focusing on my relationship with God. That
was my whole focus of my life. There isn't enough time for me to express to
you the changes that began to happen in me and in my family. I asked my
husband for forgiveness...for my sins against him. He was shocked. The
world tells you not to do this....but God told me to do this. I prayed to
be the wife that my husband needed me to be and that God had predestined for
me to be. My husband slowly sought his relationship with God and as we both
focused on God we saw what the wonderful Lord was doing to our lives! He
healed things that I thought never could be, he brought love and respect
where there was none, he gave us hope when all was lost. My husband has
returned to church as of last year. Our marriage is strong. He has asked
for forgiveness from me and from the Lord. Today, I sit here with a full
heart. I can't say there hasn't been struggles...I am just human. I
struggle with sin, everyday. But I am struggling! I am keeping my focus on
the Lord. I respect and love my husband greatly and he is a good man and
father. My marriage is what it is because of God. Without him, all would
have been lost for us. I know the love that my husband has for me also.
Today when my dear husband raises his hand it is for praising the Lord not
for striking. I just wish I could express what the Lord has done for our
family.
Pat, I am glad that you have found peace. Peace is a wonderful thing.
The Lord is truly remarkable and awesome.
Lori
lthornburg@starband.net <mailto:lthornburg@starband.net>
http://www.yfu.org
V'ani b'rov chasdecha
Avo b'techa
Eshtachave, elhe chal
Kadshecha b'yiratecha