Vindictive cruelty riddles some divorces. This only serves to crush the spirits of everyone involved, especially the children. It is my purpose in writing the following to help you look beyond the circumstances of hate and negativity.
During this adverse time we must allow parents and children alike to grow in character. Each individual will learn to forgive, allowing their own healing. This restoration will bring back a sense of value to the family, which although divided, will experience a new sense of oneness in Christ.
With this deeper wisdom, love, and peace your family will experience God’s power and a new wholeness that surpasses all understanding.
As we remember God’s love, our actions grow to reflect His will, allowing families the covering of His peace, protection, and power.
A token of God’s love
Each chapter of this book features the dramatic photography of Michael Forsberg. In scene after scene he captures moments that reveal the serenity and majesty of creation, God’s constant reminders that He loves us and will sustain us by His almighty power. We just need to put our trust in Him.
As you see the beauty of Michael’s photography we pray that God’s peace will comfort you and that you will remember that He who cares for the sparrows and the lilies cares for you.
Do not be overcome by evil, but, overcome evil with good.
ROMANS 12:21
Whether you are a divorced man or woman, God holds dreams in your heart; dreams that He wants you to live out and fulfill. Don’t give up hope; your dream is about to be lived out as you discover through God’s love and beauty the Creation you are to Him, PRECIOUS.
– Amber Parker
But the Lord is faithful, and he will stengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 THESSALONIANS 3:3
The Devastation of Divorce
The devastation of divorce may cause some to question God’s love, or even doubt that He exists. They may ask, “If there is a God, how could He let something like this happen to me and my children?”
But even in those bleak hours God stands very near. He promised never to leave you or forsake you. He will respond when you cry out to Him!
In these difficult times the Lord will sustain you and your children. You will see Him in the direction He gives you through His word, the guidance and comfort He provides through His Holy Spirit, His presence and power displayed through nature, and His love shown by other people — God’s hands and feet! In all these ways and more you will experience God’s comforting presence and His healing grace.
The Word of God
Through the Bible, God whispers to us the secrets of life and directs our paths. His word will comfort you, heal your soul, and show you how to best handle the chaos of injustice and suffering. In the strength God’s word instills you can rise above your wounds and be strong for your children.
God has also protected you by His word, commanding all people to treat you with love, respect, and faithfulness. The betrayals you may face can only come when individuals deny God’s word and reject His purpose for your family.
But what about your children? Your children can also access this powerful key to God’s presence. You can help them by pointing them to passages that answer their needs and by showing them how to find God in their own daily meditation in His powerful word. Let God bring joy to their hearts by His word! Show them His way to overcome the difficulties of divorce by His Holy Spirit and through His word!
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. PSALM 19:7
God’s Holy Word
We can find our way through the pain and confusion. Our Father will provide His strength through His Holy Spirit spoken through His word.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your forehewads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. DEUTERONOMY 6:6-9
The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. EPHESIANS 6:17
Remember… our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. EPHESIANS 6:12
For sin shall not be your master, for you are not under the law, but under grace. ROMANS 6:14
The Word of God is The Strength of God
Our Father in heaven can only equip you with his power and strength if you are in His word daily. This truly is the armor of protection for your family. He will provide the power to overcome. For the temptations that come with each trial will not be your master.
Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy. EPHESIANS 6:11
Another side effect of God’s word and Spirit will allow you to focus on His peace, and with that His clear direction. Charles Stanley plainly explains the enemies’ agenda: “One of the most effective tricks is to divert the focus of our attention away from him and onto someone or something else.” (Charles Stanley, Winning the War Within: Facing Trial, Temptations and Inner Struggles).
Finally, brethren whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. PHILIPPIANS 4:8
God’s Holy Spirit
You will also feel God’s presence through the Holy Spirit. God marks every believer by placing His Spirit inside them (Acts 2:38). It’s His comforting presence that helps us in difficult times (John 14:15-17).
We know that we live in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 JOHN 4:13
Jesus calls the Spirit “the Comforter” (John 14:16; 16:7), in Greek paraclete, a legal term for one “called beside,” who stood with the needy, who helped a defendant, not only with issues of the law but with the stresses of life that accompany such crises. How wonderful that Jesus promises this Comforter comes “to be with you forever” (John 14:16). When we endure the abandonment of divorce we especially need a “Helper” like that!
By the Spirit we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ ROMANS 8:15
The Spirit reminds us that we belong to God, no matter how others treat us.
Scripture tells us,
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children! ROMANS 8:16
When we see our families broken, when we face the financial and social devastation of divorce, when we see our children suffer in bewilderment from all the changes, we need to cling to God’s promises that we belong to Him.
We can trust His faithfulness! We know that if God includes us in His family, He accepts