DIVORCE'S DEPRESSION - FORGIVENESS'S DELIGHT

At the conclusion of my last blog I told you I would include, in my next posting, a poem that I wrote following my struggle with the issue of whether or not Our Lord would forgive the sins of divorce. Hopefully, after reading my last blog, you have become confident that, with repentance and confession of the sins that contributed to your divorce, God will most assuredly bring forgiveness and healing into your life.

Initially, I was only going to post the poem, but as I thought about it, I decided to include the scripture I applied to my life while growing through this experience. It will make it a little more difficult for you to read and I would suggest that the first time you read it you skip the scripture verses and read only the poem itself. Once you have become comfortable with the poem, then go back and read it one verse at a time and apply the scripture below it to your current feelings and perceptions.

The poem written below, with applicable verses interspersed between stanzas, may help you experience the richness of God's word as you apply it throughout your journey through the valley of the shadow of divorce.

Divorce's Depression - Forgiveness's Delight

I wept all night, depressed alone,

For my sins He could not atone.

My heart broken, I wept and wept,

My soul by Him could not be kept.

Stanza One - Psalm 119:14 - 19 - I cry out with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes. I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word. Hear my voice according to Your loving-kindness; O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.

I wept all night, depressed alone,

There were those who cast a first stone.

My heart cried out, "Where are you God,

Would I be best beneath the sod?"

Stanza Two - John 8:7, 10 & 11 - So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

Romans 7:24 & 25 - In chapter seven Paul struggles with the effect of the law, sin and death finally crying out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin."

Dreadful sin, in my deep remorse,

Could not keep it from its course.

Must I forever then remain,

Beneath its sinful rotten stain?

Stanza Three - Isaiah 53:5 - But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."

I Peter 2:24 - "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes we are healed."

Hebrews 8:12 - "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

Then one bright night a new song came,

It did my raging heartache tame.

It sang of broken hearts and plans,

And said to place them in Christ's hands.

Stanza 4 - Doug Oldham singing the hymn "Pick Up The Broken Pieces." This hymn speaks of failing and not accomplishing what you wanted to in your life. It goes on to tell you to pick up the pieces and take them to our understanding Savior. It gave me the picture of my broken platter of life needing to be cleansed and put back together by our Lord.

Divorce is a sin composite,

My heart doth grieve and wants to quit.

In hardened arteries of my soul,

I let sins take their dreadful toll.

Stanza Five - Matthew 5:4 - "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Romans 8:16 - "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."

A hardened heart, shattered, broken,

The Potter's hand it has spoken.

Pick up each piece as it's my sin

Let my Lord cleanse me from within.

Stanza Six - Psalm 95:7b&8a - "Today, if you will hear His voice; do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion."

Isaiah 64:8 - "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the works of Your Hand."

Romans 9:21-23 - "Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for His glory, even us whom He called not of the Jews only, but also of the gentiles?"

Then I came to my Savior fair,

Confessed each sin and tarried there.

He cleansed me of my sins galore,

And told me, "Go, and sin no more."

Stanza Seven - Same verses as Stanza 2 - John 8:7 - 10 & 11.

I John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

My spirit leapt, I found His grace,

Each of my sins was cleansed—erased.

I could rejoice in heart and soul.

You see, His grace had made me whole.

Stanza Eight - Ephesians 2:8-10 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the grace of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

Fresh tears flowed down, I found release

My Savior brought me precious peace.

A special text, I now make mine,

'Tis First John one, the verse is nine.

Stanza Nine - I John 1:9 - Same as stanza seven I John 1:9

Now free at last my loss was gain,

As His blessed child I still remain.

Dear Lord don't ever let me slip,

And lose our precious fellowship.

Stanza Ten - John 1:12 - "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."

Romans 8:14 - 16 - "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."

Philippians 2:1 & 2 - "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

II Corinthians 13:14 - "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen"

As I was preparing to post my poem I thought some of you ladies might think, "This poem is from a man's perspective, can it be applied to my life?" While I believe that it definitely can, especially, within the context of scripture, I am including a poem written by my wife. Sharon. She wrote it during her divorce, when she was dealing with feelings similar to those expressed in my poem.

Married No More

Marriage over and nothing right,

I prayed to God in depth of night:

Soul in torment, torn askew -

"Guide me Lord, in what to do."

It hurts so much so deep inside

And I've so little of my pride.

I take my pain of sin to you,

And the sting of failure, too.

Though I've cried and screamed within,

You've told me I could begin again.

A message came as if out loud:

"My child, hide not behind your cloud.

Do not let your heart be stone

You were not made to be alone.

Trust in me to make things right,

Another lies lonely in the night.

Asking just the same as you -

How to cope and what to do.

You know I see the sparrow's fall,

So be assured, I hear your call.

Lie still, be patient, wait on me,

I'll direct what's meant to be."

A sense of peace then settled round,

When my trust in God at last I found.

Sharon

I hope you will find blessing and encouragement as you meditate on these two poems. I look forward to visiting with you again soon. Any comments or questions you may have are always welcome.

Hugs, In Christ's and My Love

Don E. Cunningham, Author © 12/6/07 1567