Question:
I have filed for divorce. Why has God failed me?
There are a number of devastating events that can occur in everyday life. One of them is an unwanted divorce. For a child of God it can be even more dramatic because of knowing of God’s hatred of divorce. Marriage is God’s fundamental institution on earth. It is the foundational form of government for man, and a good marriage brings wholeness and soundness to those who belong to a solid family. The person who sent the email to us asking the above question was devastated because that person struggled, prayed, and believed God to keep the marriage; but it ended in filing for divorce.
First of all, if you have been devastated by a horrible situation, God wants you to know that He loves you. He knows exactly what you are suffering. Jesus went through rejection, abuse, and a torturous death. He knows the agony of suffering. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus hundreds of years before our Lord was born, that He would be a man that was despised, and a man of sorrow who was acquainted with grief (Isa. 53:3 KJV). Jesus knows firsthand the misery and devastation that can come just living this life.
However, just because Jesus was so mistreated did not mean that God was against Him or not with Him. Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One of God. His ministry was full of giving miracles to the oppressed of the devil, of healing the sick, raising the dead—all in the setting of being rejected by his own people.
So it is important to understand that when things go wrong, it does not mean that God is not with you, or that God does not care, or that somehow God felt that you needed to suffer. You cannot judge the situation by its failure. The Scriptures are full of encouragements of God’s everlasting love for you, and of His concern. Even a sparrow does not fall to the ground without your Heavenly Father knowing about it. And every hair on your head is numbered. God knows and is concerned about you completely. (Matt. 10:29, 30)
Secondly, there are some aspects of life that cannot be controlled, or at the very least are very tough to get the victory in. God is a miracle worker, and God answers prayer; but some things are more difficult than others in getting the desired result. Jesus even said to his disciples regarding their failure to cast out demons from one individual, that some things are accomplished only by prayer and fasting (Matt. 17:21). And this was after Jesus had empowered his disciples to cast out demons, and after they experienced success in doing so. They had experienced divine power in their lives. But in this one scene, they failed to get the victory. Yet, God was still with them; they were still Jesus’ disciples.
The point here is that when you have done all that you can, even prayed, and major negative events like an unwanted divorce still occur, it is not that God does not care or is not with you. And it is not because there is some hidden thing that makes God not want to answer you. Often, it is a case of spiritual warfare—fighting and struggling that occurs in the Spirit Realm—that overpowers your righteous desire for your marriage or any other good thing to succeed. You and I must keep in mind that the devil fights anything and everything that is righteous. Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10 KJV). But Jesus wants you to keep your faith and trust in God in those times when things go wrong; to keep your discipline in walking with God. Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mat 10:28 KJV). And in another place, Jesus said that evil offenses will come, but woe to the one through whom those evil offences come (Matt. 18:7). For the believer, that means keeping our confidence in Him; those who do evil to you will suffer for what they have done to you. Remember, we reap what we sow (Gal. 6:8). For the righteous that is a good thing, especially since we have forgiveness of our own sins through Jesus Christ. For sinners, it spells a horrible judgment because they have no hope; even if they prosper temporarily.
Thirdly, God wants you to pick up the pieces and go on in faith; to keep a spiritual passion for life. He is still with you. He still cares. He still loves you. And He wants you to continue to grow in faith, to mature in spiritual things, and to prosper in this life in Christ. And His Spirit will keep your soul and give you strength throughout your life (John 10:10; 1 Peter 1:5). In the end you will be able to say, like Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). And because of your continuing on in this life, trusting in Jesus, in the end you will hear Jesus say to you, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matt. 25:21 KJV).
May God encourage you to go on with life, trusting Jesus Christ to help you at every turn. God’s blessing be with you; in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Rev. Pat Reynolds
Wayne Parks Ministries