The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.
-Job 42:12a, NIV
Looking back is odd these days, I feel like I am considering a stranger as I think about my first marriage.
God has truly blessed the second part of my life. I feel tremendously grateful for all He has poured out upon my life these days.
I share this as an encouragement.
It has not even been a full decade since my divorce. Yet my life is rebuilt better than I could have ever imagined back then.
My career is thriving. I have an amazing and beautiful wife in Mrs. DM. Plus, I am a proud father of Munchkin who fills my heart with joy and laughter.
None of this would have been possible if I had given into despair during my first marriage’s adulterous demise.
I write this to those in the midst of their darkest hours. Do not give up! I testify to God’s goodness and faithfulness to me.
It CAN get MUCH better post-cheater! My life is a loud testimony to that.
One day, you will wake up and look back upon that time as mere history of a person who you once were. It will only be a sad chapter to your amazing life story.
Hi DM,
Thanks for being a Christian and Biblical voice for the victims of adultery. Although, I understand you are trying to be encouraging, I find your comments today slightly flippant. Unlike your situation, some of us were married for decades before divorce. Unfortunately, after so many years, children etc, etc. our past marriage is not “just a sad chapter” of our lives – it was our lives – and some of us are trying to rebuild our lives, recover from years of deceit on many levels, one foot from the grave here!
My point was to share how my past no longer is a matter of daily pain for me. Healing has taken place in my heart. It is my hope everyone experiences such healing even if it isn’t expressed in the same way. We all have different experiences, and some of us, as you expressed, have even greater losses than others, like myself. I acknowledge that. My hope is never to cause harm to another faithful spouse. I apologize for how my words seemed to hurt instead of help.
I have to agree. I try to be encouraged, but I see little hope. My cheating husband abandoned me for his mistress after being married for decades, I now struggle to support myself and the possibility of another relationship is very remote at my age. My past marriage isn’t just “a chapter” in my life, it was my whole life. What are we to do now?
Take the gifts you DO have from that past (like children) and grieve the loses. A future looks different for each of us when we are at different life stages. Yet we all have a future. There is hope whatever your life stage for God is the Author of hope, and He remains the Writer for all of us.