God Works Through The Broken Places

Devotional: God Works Through The Broken Places

In 2021, I made the difficult decision to get a divorce. My husband and I had been together for over 25 years and married for nearly 22 of them. After walking through infidelity once before and choosing forgiveness and reconciliation, I found myself facing the heartbreak of betrayal again. This time, I knew I could not continue moving forward in the relationship.

I was devastated.

The disappointment and grief felt unbearable at times. Navigating a completely different future than the one I had imagined was overwhelming. Some days, the sadness sat so heavily on my heart that it felt impossible to imagine ever feeling normal again. Other days, anger consumed me as I struggled with how one person’s choices could impact so many lives so deeply.

If I am being honest, I also wrestled with anger toward God.

After the first betrayal, I had prayed, listened for His guidance, chosen forgiveness, and stayed committed to rebuilding our marriage. So when it happened again, I found myself questioning everything. Why would God allow me to walk through this pain again after I had tried to be obedient to Him the first time? How could Romans 8:28 possibly still be true?

The truth is, we live in a broken world filled with imperfect people — including ourselves. God does not force our choices, and He does not remove our free will. While God allows trials in our lives, He is not the author of sin. People make choices, and sometimes those choices deeply wound others.

God never promised us a life free from pain. In fact, Jesus tells us plainly in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble.

What God does promise is His presence.

He promises peace when our hearts feel shattered.He promises strength when we feel weak.He promises comfort when grief overwhelms us.And He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Romans 8:28 does not mean every circumstance is good. Betrayal, heartbreak, loss, and suffering are painful realities of living in a fallen world. What the verse does promise is that God is able to work even the most painful seasons of our lives into something meaningful for His purpose and our growth.

Sometimes God rebuilds us in the very places where we were broken.

That rebuilding process is not instant. Healing takes time. Faith is stretched in the waiting. But through every tear, every question, and every uncertain step forward, God remains faithful.

Looking back now, I can see that even in the middle of heartbreak, God was slowly rebuilding my identity, my strength, my faith, and my dependence on Him.

He was not absent in my pain.He was walking beside me through it.

Reflection

Is there an area of pain or disappointment in your life where you have struggled to understand God’s purpose? What would it look like to trust that even in the broken places, God is still working?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for staying near to me in seasons of heartbreak, disappointment, and uncertainty. When life feels painful and confusing, help me to trust that You are still working, even when I cannot yet see the purpose. Give me peace in the middle of grief, strength for each new day, and faith to believe that You can bring healing and restoration from even the most broken places. Amen.