Many people (including churches) struggle with how to speak about marriage and divorce in a way that is both biblically faithful and pastorally gracious.

• “I still affirm God’s design for marriage.”

• “I have known the pain of brokenness and the grace of healing.”

• “God’s purposes for me are not over. They’ve been reshaped by grace.”

“Grace of restoration” refers to:

1. God’s redemptive work after personal loss or failure
   Even when a marriage ends in divorce — whether due to sin, pain, or irreconcilable circumstances — God’s grace does not end there. He restores our identity, purpose, and capacity to love and lead again.

   “He restores my soul.”
   – Psalm 23:3a (ESV)

   “Behold, I am making all things new.”
   – Revelation 21:5 (ESV)

   “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”
   – Joel 2:25 (ESV)

   “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”
   – Romans 5:20 (ESV)

   These verses highlight that God’s grace doesn’t end with our failures. He is able to bring beauty out of ashes and rebuild what has been lost or broken.

2. The healing of your heart, relationships, and calling
   Restoration is not necessarily putting things back the way they were, but bringing wholeness out of brokenness. For someone like me — who’s experienced healing, remarriage, and renewed ministry — this is restoration by grace.

   “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
   – Psalm 147:3 (ESV)

   “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
   – Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

   “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace… will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
   – 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

   “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… to give you a future and a hope.”
   – Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

   These verses affirm that God’s healing is personal and comprehensive. It affects my inner life, my capacity to love again, and my usefulness in ministry.

3. God’s invitation to continue walking faithfully
   The grace of restoration means I am not disqualified. Instead, I have been met by God’s mercy, refined by the trial, and equipped to walk forward in humility and strength — even to lead others who have known relational pain.

   “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.”
   – Galatians 6:1 (ESV)

   “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
   – Romans 11:29 (ESV)

   “Forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead… toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
   – Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV)

   “Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”
   – Psalm 37:24 (ESV)

   These speak of continued calling and usefulness in God’s mission, even after walking through failure, sorrow, or personal hardship.