My Divorce May be on Stage
Illustration by Heather D
It’s hard to not get caught up in your own circumstances and pain while going through divorce. Pleas and prayers go up to God asking Him to change the circumstances and heal the marriage or, at least, remove the pain.
James MacDonaold in his book, I Really Want to Change…So, Help me God, states,
“Here’s the hard truth that sets people free; God’s bottom line doesn’t have anything to do with you or me or any human being. This whole universe is not about us; it’s about God. God does not exist to fulfill our purposes; we exist to fulfill God’s purposes. The reason why He allows you and I to draw another breath is for His purposes, not ours. God changes us not to make us feel good or accomplish our plans. He changes us so we can accomplish His purposes. God is not here for us; we are here for Him…Now here’s the point: God wants to bring glory to Himself and display Himself through you. In fact, He wants to do it even in the most mundane things that you do. “’Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’” (I Corinthians 10:31)” (pg 56)
We so often get this backwards in our self-centered existence of “it is all about us.”
God uses all things in our lives. He sometimes chooses to use some of the hardest circumstances in our lives for His glory. Remember Job? He went through a rougher time than most and he was seen as a “righteous man”.
There is something about divorce that seems to interest others. So often, I felt that many binoculars were directed toward my life. It was as if satan was sending out emails saying, “Sandy may be a Christian when all goes well in her life, but watch her now as her life falls apart.”
In I Corinthians 4:1-3, Paul talks about the suffering he and the apostles endured for the sake of God’s glory. “…people should think of us as servants of Christ, the ones God trusted…who are trusted with something valuable [glorifying Christ]…we are like a show for the whole world to see—angels and people” ( I Cor 4:1-3, 9b, NIV)
Will you trust in God and give Him the praise and glory for what He is going to do, or will you grovel in mindless, self-centered prayers begging God to remove the pain. Don’t get it wrong. Even Jesus asked God to remove the cross but then He dropped it and trusted His Father to do what must be done.
I believe God uses those who are willing to stand out and trust Him and His timing to change the circumstances (or the plot on stage.) Think of it as flattery that he chose you worthy for the part. God feels you are ready to be transformed for His sake and glorification. What are others seeing from your behavior and actions? Are you on stage playing the part of a trusting Christian or are you the grumbling character? Think about it!