Life After Divorce Part 1

Life After Divorce Part 1: Hope For A New Life

Malachi 2:16 “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God

God hates DIVORCE not God hates PEOPLE who are divorced.

God LOVES us in our BROKENNESS and SIN.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Divorce HURTS PEOPLE whom God loves.

Many view divorce as the remedy of the ills of their marriage, the statistics PROVE they are WRONG.

50% percent of first marriages(50/100), 67% of second (33.5/50) and 74% of third marriages end in divorce (24.79/33.5).
90% of divorced mothers have custody of their children
60% of people under poverty guidelines are divorced women and children
Single mothers support up to four children on an average after-tax annual income of $12,200
65% divorced mothers receive no child support
Women who work and place their children in child care experience a greater stigma than men in the same position.
Men are usually confronted with greater emotional adjustment problems than women.
Men remarry more quickly than women.
Men are initially more negative about divorce than women and devote more energy in attempting to salvage the marriage.
children of divorce frequently suffer from depression, failure in school, and getting in trouble with the law.
boys and girls suffer equally; they just differ in how they suffer. Boys are more externally symptomatic than girls, they act out their anger, frustration and hurt. They may get into trouble in school, fight more with peers and parents. Girls tend to internalize their distress. They may become depressed, develop headaches or stomach aches, and have changes in their eating and sleeping patterns.
A drop in parents’ income often caused by the same income now supporting two households directly affects children over time in terms of proper nutrition, involvement in extracurricular activities, clothing (no more designer jeans and fancy shoes), and school choices.
growing up with two parents is better for children, but only when both mother and father are the biological or “intact” (as opposed to remarried) parents. In fact, there is some evidence that second marriages can actually be harmful to adolescents.

Those who are not divorced should do ALL they can to TRY to SAVE the marriage; and not just save it, but have a healthy and happy relationship.

The STATISTICS are against us, but GOD is for us.

God is a “COME as you are” God, but He is not a “STAY as you are” God.

John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Matthew 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Repent means CHANGE. A new life means a new WAY of LIVING/ doing things.

If we want to avoid repeat performances and future failures we must STOP following the CROWD and START following JESUS.

Do things God’s way get God’s results! Do things some other way get other results.

Matthew 11:28-30 ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

God LOVES you and wants to HELP you!

2Peter 1:2-4 ² Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. ³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Jesus warned us that KNOWING what God says isn’t enough; you have to DO it!

Matthew 7:24-27 ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

1Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead