“Failures are events, not persons.” -Anonymous psychologist (emphasis mine)
“Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.” -Psalm 27:10, NLT
These two quotes ministered greatly to my ravaged soul during the aftermath of discovering adultery and getting divorced. The power of the statements are tied to the lies they address.
When a marriage ends, it is hard not to feel like a failure. It is hard to keep the distinction between making a failure or mistake and feeling one is a failure or mistake. I know I felt like a failure early in the aftermath of my divorce.
And I suspect it was Satan whispering lies into my ears to steal my joy and well-being. He wanted me to believe I was a failure and thereby worthless, because I could not keep my marriage together or prevent my (ex)wife from cheating on me. And he wanted me to own what I did not control–i.e. the ability to keep my first marriage from ending in the sucktacular way it did. While I do not see my divorce as a failure on my part now, I can see how I bought the lies and nearly accepted seeing myself as a failure.
Remember: “Failures are events, NOT persons.“ -Anonymous Psychologist (emphasis mine)
Another lie adultery, abandonment, and divorce can foster is that you will always be rejected. “No one wants you” or “No one will ever really want you” is what that lie tells you. The verse from Psalm 27 attacks the lie head on by reminding us of God’s unwavering acceptance of us. People–even family–may come and go in our lives, but God will always want us. We are SO precious to Him! God does not make throw-away humans.
Remember:
“Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.” -Psalm 27:10, NLT
This speaks so greatly to a lot of us. As you know from personal experience and the great Cump Lady, we are told such horrible things by our abusive spouses. We go into divorce thinking we’re not worth anything and come out of it really feeling that lie. I know I feel it daily. I know there isn’t a soul out there that would want to deal with what I have going on right now. It will take a lot of time to get to a point where things will change. Thank you for this. I hope it speaks to others as well.
Glad you found it encouraging, Home School Mama! I am thankful for those who helped pick me up when I was down. Hope this helps others, too.