Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
-2 Timothy 4:2, NIV
To be helped, we need to be open to receiving.
Maybe the Christian community turned on you when you decided to divorce your cheater or your cheater decided to divorce you? Maybe your cheater is a pastor himself? Maybe your pastor blamed and shamed you for the infidelity and/or marriage ending?
These are all understandable reasons to hesitate looking for help from a minister.
The association of blaming and shaming is just so strong that accepting help from a minister feels too much. It is hard to trust again after such a horrible breach.
I think the Enemy delights in such separation of the sheep from the under-shepherds.
The last thing Satan wants is a faithful spouse to discover a restorative relationship with a good minister who helps them navigate these evil times into the arms of God.
When we have bad experiences, we have a choice. We can either:
A) Choose to assume everyone (and all organizations like their organization) is equally broken and hurtful for us…
OR
B) Choose to remember this was just one person/church, and God has other people who are godly and kind instead.
I am grateful for all of you who had bad experiences with ministers who still come here to this blog. It isn’t easy choosing “B.” I know.
Thank you for your trust and willingness to receive! I hope you have been truly blessed for your courage doing so.
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