Surviving an Unwanted Divorce: A Biblical, Practical Guide to Letting Go While Holding Yourself Together

TerKeurst (I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t) teams up with her Therapy and Theology podcast cohosts Muddamalle (The Hidden Peace), a theologian, and Cress, a therapist, for a refreshingly concise and candid guide to enduring divorce. After learning of her husband’s infidelity in 2016, TerKeurst engaged with him in a “dysfunctional dance” of empty promises, marriage counseling, and reconciliation attempts before filing for divorce in 2021 (“I wasn’t giving up. I was finally accepting the reality that changing a marriage really isn’t possible if one of the two people is unwilling or incapable of making the desperately needed changes”). The author addresses concerns common to believers considering or recovering from a divorce, including the biblical stance on the subject (God doesn’t “hate divorce,” according to TerKeurst, and scripture shows it’s “permissible under certain situations,” including in abusive marriages), how to adjust to a new normal, and how to forgive without forgetting or reconciling. TerKeurst does important work in debunking the notion that divorce is a spiritual failure, while actionable tips from Cress (on recognizing codependency, among other topics) add value. This will be a balm to believers in the midst of or fresh off their own marital breakups. (Nov.)