The social media platform informed me that it was Christie’s birthday. I sent her a Happy Birthday message and a few minutes later, I received a heartfelt thank you.
Christie was having a tough day and needed to chat with someone, so she kept writing:
“I am going through a very challenging time.”
“My husband of 30 years left me once more… It has been three years since. This time I did not ask him to come back… But … I am losing my faith now!”
“How can God allow this!? He lives happily with that woman, and I am growing weary, losing my faith and keep asking ‘WHY??? WHY is this happening to me?’ … why?”
It was so hard to know what to write for Christie to feel that, at least for a tiny moment, someone heard her, someone understood her pain. After a short prayer, I wrote back:
“You loved him dearly, but your love for him was frustrated, was not valued. Probably, there is no answer to the “why?” … Your love was not reciprocated or appreciated. It was his choice to do so.”
To which she answered:
“Exactly, what should I do now, though? I accepted Christ to find redemption, but my ex, on the other hand, is having the time of his life and couldn’t care less about what I am going through… How can God allow him to live and continue in his debauchery?”
Over the next few days, Christie and I exchanged quite a few messages. All her messages radiated pain and bitterness. All of them portrayed a woman who wanted her ex to experience divine punishment but was also eagerly waiting for him to come back and love her wholeheartedly. At some point in our conversation, I decided to face this deeper issue:
“I can understand your desire for him to suffer some kind of consequences. It is the most normal thing to feel. But can I ask you something? Let’s say, someday your ex comes back. Truly repentant. Let’s say he sincerely apologized and asked you to take him back, promising he will never hurt you again. Would you take him back? Would you be willing to test him and see if maybe you could rebuild your life together? How much more would God? He loves each one of us unconditionally and desires for no one to be lost.”
“You have a point. But nevertheless it is soooo unfair for my ex to live happily while I wither away…”
Christie tried out Christianity to get God on her side, to get her ex back. But Christie is not aware of the healing and restoring reality that God is the one who longs to be seen and loved by her. Please pray with me that her eyes might be opened and she would experience His true love and have an abundant life.
