Holding Out for the Glorious

Oct 6, 2009

“For God is not merely mending, not simply restoring a status quo. Redeemed humanity is to be something more glorious than unfallen humanity.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Yesterday I told you I couldn’t get over this quote. Now I’ll explain why.

In my September 22nd post, I mentioned I’m divorced.

Whew. It took me a long time to be able to say that out loud. And it’s been nearly a dozen years. Being a product of a good “Christian” family, few things seem as unforgivable and unredeemable as a failed marriage. Even still, there are times I feel like I’m carrying this large, heavy suitcase with a giant “D” on it everywhere I go. It’s the elephant in every room which requires explaining again and again to people who want to have their questions answered. I weary of it, and often I’d rather pretend that entire season of my life never existed in the first place.

Which, I believe, is part of my problem. Pretending it didn’t happen doesn’t make it any less so. And the more I attempt to recreate the pre-crisis status quo, the more I end up captive to what is.

I love the above quote by C.S. Lewis because it speaks precisely to this warped way of thinking. God doesn’t mend our messes and make them as if they’d never happened. He doesn’t try to make us “unfallen,” taking us back to the people we were before our hearts were ripped out. Instead, He takes our fallen selves — the mess, the regret, the stuff we wish never was — and builds up His purposes all around it, making the inglorious part of the glorious.

That’s why I can now tell you I’m divorced, without hanging my head in shame or rushing to try and explain. “Divorce” is no longer the name of my suitcase of failure or a measure of my insufficiency. Divorce is merely the part of my history which couldn’t escape a glorious redemption.

Are you hanging on to the inglorious or the glorious?

5 Comments

  1. Denise Miller Holmes

    Yes. Getting rid of shame from the past is like being unshackled from a million-pound weight. So glad you are free. I enjoyed this post, Michele.

    Reply
  2. Dena Netherton

    So glad you are able to share this. Your healing speaks mightily of God’s glory.

    Reply
  3. Jerolyn

    Thanks the reminder Michele. It’s so easy to let our “damage” define us instead of the incredible work of Christ.

    Reply
  4. Michele

    Thanks, my friends. Means a lot to me that we share this new season of life!

    Reply
  5. Beth Williams

    Michelle,

    I first met you over at In Courage. Love your writing. You are a courageous woman. Thank you for letting God use your trials & tragedies for His kingdom. This is a great message. I pray God continues to bless you & your family!

    Reply

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