Rebuilding Ruins: Restoring H.O.P. E. After Divorce a 6-Day Devotional by Kelly A. FosterPrøve

# Day 5: E. Explore your interests I love to paint. I discovered this in my season of divorce as I struggled with what to do with my time. It started with my daughter's paint set and suddenly went to my own paints, brushes, and canvas. I paint my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I paint the scriptures and my visual understanding of God. It is therapeutic. It has become my new happy place. I stumbled upon painting all of a sudden in this season because time became a huge concern. Some days I had no time as I rushed to accomplish everything on my to-do list. On other days it seemed like I had an endless amount of time and no idea how to fill it with anything other than mourning and depression. At the time, I was unfortunately not in touch with my interests, things I liked to do alone, or things that brought me joy. If you are a mom, this can be especially difficult as you balance a new custody schedule and time apart from your children that you’ve never had before. It’s so easy to plan for family time when family time is all you know, but what about when it’s just you? How do you manage your time as you mourn, seek healing, and hope? As God is healing your heart, showing you how to forgive and rebuild the ruins that have resulted from divorce, you will benefit from exploring your interests. Live your life to the fullest each day (Psalm 118:24). Do the things that you’ve always talked about. Complete the projects you’ve dreamed of. Write the book you can’t get off your mind. Learn a new skill, teach a class or start a hobby. While you are getting yourself busy exploring what interests you, you won’t have time to wallow in the pains of yesterday (Matthew 6:34). God is good. He still reigns on the throne. His plans for your life are full of hope and an abundant future (John 10:10), but you have got to start living. Explore every healthy opportunity to move your body, uncover your hidden gifts and shine your light in the world. Remember, divorce does not discredit or deny you the right to live and find joy again. Joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). When divorce leaves gaps in your spiritual health, fill them with a closer connection to God. When divorce destabilizes your emotional health, grounded Godly relationships can help fill the absence. When your time is altered by divorce, it is God’s will that you continue to use every second of your life as a gift and fill it with God-honoring activities and interests. Exploring what interests you is the balance to enduring the pain of divorce. As you heal, grow, and start living again, the pain begins to subside before you know it, and you can enjoy the goodness that God is still blessing your life with. Prayer: Thank you, God, for all the unique qualities and gifts you put inside me. Help me to embrace my identity in you fully. Show me how to see the world with fresh eyes and enjoy every good thing that you have created. Remove any fear as I explore new interests and conquer new challenges. I trust that you will be with me. I am grateful for the coming joy I have yet to experience, but I am fully assured of your promise. You are worthy of all my praise, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Reflection Questions: 1. How can you add more joy to your healing journey? 2. When was the last time you intentionally planned to pursue your healthy interests?