Book Review
“Surviving an Unwanted Divorce”
by Lysa TerKeurst
One thing that stands out about this book is how honestly it deals with the pain of divorce while still taking scripture seriously. Instead of simply giving quick Christian clichés, Lysa and her co-authors try to look closely at what the Bible actually says about divorce, forgiveness, and healing.
The book grew out of Lysa’s own experience after her marriage ended because of repeated betrayal by her husband. A big part of the Biblical discussion centers on the question many Christians wrestle with: Does God hate divorce? The book explains that the often-quoted verse in Malachi is somewhat misunderstood. The focus of God’s anger in the passage is on betrayal and harm in a marriage, not on condemning the wounded person who ends up divorced. The scriptural advice is practical. The authors talk about forgiveness in a balanced way-acknowledging that forgiving someone does not necessarily mean trusting them again or restoring the relationship. They also discuss topics including codependency, boundaries, and emotional healing and connecting these ideas back to Biblical principles about truth, humility, and personal responsibility.
Overall, the book, “Surviving an Unwanted Divorce,” encourages readers to understand scripture carefully, to let go of shame, and to trust that God can still lead you into the future of hope that He has for you, even after something as painful as divorce.
Whether you are healing from a past divorce yourself, going through one currently, or ministering to someone in your congregation going through a divorce, this book can be helpful in navigating through the hurt and help bring healing.
