The "Goodbye" of Church Divorce

When the day finally comes that you know you have done all that you could, said all you could possibly say and still the situation is unresolved - it is time to go.

Unresolved conflict is never His ideal, and we are always to make every attempt at peacemaking. The reality is, it is not only up to us. Just as God did with Pharaoh He may have hardened the heart of the person or people you are in conflict with for His own purposes (Ex. 9:12; 10:20, 27; 11:10).

You may wonder why God has allowed all this to happen to you. You may wonder what you have done or missed to have these things come about in your life. If you are like me, you wonder what the point of all this could possibly be! How could God allow injustice and unrighteousness to prevail? It is in our nature to wonder why things like this happen. They appear so contrary to Scripture and we struggle with believing that God could ever want such a division to take place among His people.

This is where our thoughts go in our humanity, but remember we are to be wise students of the Word of God. We are to look to the narratives of the Word and see if we can find any parallels in our circumstances.

Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NASB)

Hide yourself in Him, in His Word, and grow and change through this adversity. This time is intentional in your life and in the life of the church and people you will leave behind.

I would like to encourage you with a few truths: God is completely sovereign. He is completely omniscient (all knowing) and He is the God of your future. He knows the plans He has for you (Jer. 29:11) and they are all good. Despite how you may feel today- lost, devastated, hopeless, sorrowful, fearful- please believe that God is in control of this entire matter. If you are to leave your church home and go elsewhere He will make it clear to you where to go, He is faithful!

Times of change are times of growth. Beloved, God knows what He is trying to accomplish in your heart and life. There are changes to be made in each of us and God knows what is necessary to accomplish them. If a "church divorce" has been a part of your life, God knew that is what it would take to effect those changes- nothing more and certainly nothing less. You do not see the necessity of this event in your life right now, but like all other things in your life it has a purpose.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; Romans 8:28-29 (NASB)

God's purpose in this trial and sorrow is to make you more like Christ. Have you said you want to "know Christ" and be conformed to His image and likeness? Phil. 3:10 says that comes with suffering and death. Not physical death right now, but death to self that He might live in you!

Some people really struggle wondering what their epitaph will be in the church they are leaving. How will they be remembered? What will be said about them once they are gone for good? Is there any point in wondering?

I encourage you to honor the Lord as you complete this journey. If you do so and do not become bitter and angry you will be able to look back on this one day and actually thank God for what you have endured. You will see what God has done in your heart and life as a result of this trial and praise Him for it.