"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."— Romans 8:1 (NASB)

Cinderella at Midnight

Somewhere along the way, I got the idea that if I loved God, I'd live happily after ever.

After my divorce, I wish my midnight epiphany had produced a pumpkin. But that revelation plunged me into a painful reality that others no longer considered my God-given giftedness useful to honor God—at least in their ministries and organizations. Their attitudes towards my divorce, which was biblical as defined by them, communicated, "You're marriage failed; it's an embarrassment to us. You're persona non grata, no longer useful to God."

By contrast, I felt passionately that my plunge into devastation equipped me to better understand, comfort and warn others.

Other than Jesus, I do not recall the people that God used in the Bible as being polished and perfect. Talk about embarrassing, their lives were messy. I love the way the Bible reveals man—unvarnished.

• Adam rejected God's wisdom.
  
• Abraham lied.
  
• Moses murdered a man.
  
• David committed adultery.
  
• Solomon's wives turned his heart away from God.
  
• Peter denied God's son.
  
• Thomas doubted Jesus.
  
• Paul incited murderous riots towards those who believed in Christ.
  

Religionists measured me by their success-oriented expectations. Jesus values me far differently. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted," (Matthew 5:3-4 NASB). The Greek word for poor, ptōchos, means "reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms, destitute of wealth, influence, position, and honor."

Hmmm. That definition accurately describes single parenthood to me.

No longer an honored part of "their" family and without influence, I felt closer to God, relying on him more than before.

God's ways are not our ways and for that, I'm glad. After we fall, God lifts us up, using our grace-blessed lives in a deeper way to comfort others.