Living Changed: After DivorceSample

Pursued

Even though the season after a divorce is really hard, with God, it can also be sweet. When everything else falls away and He is all you have, you can more easily see just how much God loves you. 

Growing up in church, I’d heard about how God leaves the 99 to go after the one who is lost. But I didn’t always understand that His relentless pursuit of us doesn’t stop at salvation. The truth is, He will never leave us and He will never stop pursuing us. As I’ve become more aware of God’s pursuit, I’m better able to recognize His presence in my everyday life and know I’m not alone.

God’s pursuit looks different for everyone. It’s especially tailored to each person. For me, I’ve always loved sunsets, especially ones that fill the sky with deep reds and oranges. When I was younger, I would watch the sunset and just be enamored by God’s creation. Now, I realize the awe I feel watching a beautiful sunset is one of the ways God speaks to my heart. It’s His way of telling me, “I know how much you like these, and I was thinking of you.” It reminds me of His love when I need it most. 

The first wedding I attended after my divorce was rough. I kept it together for most of the night—until the Anniversary Dance. That’s the one where all the married couples go out onto the dance floor to dance. Then the DJ dismisses couples until you’re left with the longest married couple at the wedding. It used to be my favorite part of any wedding. But this time, I went into a bathroom stall and sobbed. I had never felt so alone.

A few hours later as everyone said their goodbyes, it started to pour down rain. Even though it was still daytime, the sky turned dark as night from all the thunderclouds. As my friend drove, I stared off into the distance, glad to have survived the emotional roller coaster. Then I noticed a sort of glowing in the trees. I thought they must be on fire. But when I saw they weren’t, I turned around to see where the light was coming from. 

And there, through a small break in the storm clouds, was the most beautiful red-orange sunset I have ever seen. It was only there for a moment. As quickly as the clouds had parted, they closed back up. It was so overwhelming, it brought tears to my eyes because I knew the sunset was just for me. God was reaching out to tell me I was not alone. With Him by my side, I had never been alone and I will never be alone. And the same is true for you. 

Though everyone else may fail you, God never will. He loves you with an undying passion that will never stop. No matter how far you run or how many times you push Him away, He won’t give up. He’ll keep coming after you, reminding you that you are His. He’ll never get tired of you or lose interest. He’s the perfect man, the knight in shining armor you’ve dreamt about since you were a little girl. Let Him love you. Let Him remind you that you are wanted—so much so that He paid the ultimate price, death on a cross, so He can spend eternity with you. 

God, thank you for your relentless love and pursuit of me. I’m so grateful that even though you know the number of hairs on my head, you want to know me even more. Whenever I feel lonely, remind me that I am never alone because you have promised to always be with me. Reveal to me the ways you pursue my heart so I can better recognize your presence in my life. Break down my walls and help me to accept your perfect love. In Jesus’ name, Amen!