Answers

By   •   December 27, 2007   •   Topics:

Q:

How can I let go of the past? After 13 years of marriage, my husband left me to live with (and finally marry) another woman, and although I know it's all over, I still feel crushed. I know I've got to get on with my life, but I don't know how to pull myself out of the dumps.


A:

Tomorrow begins a new year–and my prayer is that it truly will be a new year for you as you seek God’s help to leave the past behind and find strength for the future. The Bible says that when we put our trust in God, “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18).

One reason you probably hurt so deeply is because you feel like you have been rejected. You may even be blaming yourself for what happened, thinking that it must have been your fault that he turned against you and cast you off. You may even feel that you must be a worthless and unlovable person to have him betray you so completely.

But are these feelings valid? I doubt it. What your husband did was wrong–not only in your eyes, but in the eyes of God. When he married you, he took a vow to be faithful to you as long as you both lived–and he alone is responsible for breaking that solemn vow. Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:6).

God knows all about your hurts–and the most important thing I can tell you is that He loves you and wants to help you. He loves you so much that His Son was willing to give His life for your salvation. By faith open your heart to Christ today. Human love may fail–but God’s love never does.