January 28
DivorceCare
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
The cycles of life, the ups and downs, the good and the bad that come our way. It was no more real to me than it was last night.
I sat at a table with Julie and John, Rachelle, Stacy, Suzy, Lisa, Bill, Linda and Kari. There was pain all around that table. Pain I had never experienced.
As the sun set behind the mountains outside our window, they began to share. Eight of the group had been divorced or separated and they had come for healing, for help, and for a chance to move on. Their experiences were different, but the results were the same—agony. They expressed it differently, but it was a common theme. They used words like numb, shocked, hurt, painful and descriptions in degrees, like extreme or excruciating. But really, the words couldn’t describe what they were feeling. But I could tell what this was. Death. They had experienced the death of their marriages. The end of oneness. Something I had never gone through myself.
These wonderful people were crushed and … they were hanging on. And I saw something else last night. I saw hope. I saw it in Bill, and I saw it in Julie. Both had gone through hard divorces, but both were healing. Bill and Julie led the group and encouraged us all by sharing this truth: It was the LORD who had rescued them, and it was fellow believers who had come alongside and encouraged them. Finally, they were out of the pit.
Yes, the cycles of life can be devastating. But last night, I saw God begin the healing process. He came close. And I … was encouraged!
LORD, rescue those who are crushed in spirit, and heal the brokenhearted. Bless this group and each one in it. Amen.
DivorceCare
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
The cycles of life, the ups and downs, the good and the bad that come our way. It was no more real to me than it was last night.
I sat at a table with Julie and John, Rachelle, Stacy, Suzy, Lisa, Bill, Linda and Kari. There was pain all around that table. Pain I had never experienced.
As the sun set behind the mountains outside our window, they began to share. Eight of the group had been divorced or separated and they had come for healing, for help, and for a chance to move on. Their experiences were different, but the results were the same—agony. They expressed it differently, but it was a common theme. They used words like numb, shocked, hurt, painful and descriptions in degrees, like extreme or excruciating. But really, the words couldn’t describe what they were feeling. But I could tell what this was. Death. They had experienced the death of their marriages. The end of oneness. Something I had never gone through myself.
These wonderful people were crushed and … they were hanging on. And I saw something else last night. I saw hope. I saw it in Bill, and I saw it in Julie. Both had gone through hard divorces, but both were healing. Bill and Julie led the group and encouraged us all by sharing this truth: It was the LORD who had rescued them, and it was fellow believers who had come alongside and encouraged them. Finally, they were out of the pit.
Yes, the cycles of life can be devastating. But last night, I saw God begin the healing process. He came close. And I … was encouraged!
LORD, rescue those who are crushed in spirit, and heal the brokenhearted. Bless this group and each one in it. Amen.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 10:03 PM
