Truth that Will Set You Free

by Ginger

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (NIV)

I was not born into a world of rejection, as Joyce was, but it found me. And when it did, it hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. One fateful day, I discovered that my husband, Tim, was hiding a dark secret. When I confronted him, he admitted to years of addiction to pornography and the lies that came with it. After almost 15 years of marriage, his betrayal slammed into me like an 18-wheeler, knocking me to the pavement and leaving me questioning almost everything I thought I knew to be true. I felt betrayed and angry, shocked and foolish, devastated and rejected. Deeply rejected.

For a while, I thought this betrayal and the rejection I experienced was the end of my world. It wasn’t. And if you have experienced a similar rejection, it won’t be for you either. I’m grateful for that fateful day and what I found. I have no doubt that it was God’s hand at work revealing the secret. I’m not glad we had to walk through the ugliness, but I am thankful to be free of it. Jesus says in John 8:32 that the truth will set you free. I would rather walk in the light of truth than remain in the darkness of secrets. In the light, there is healing.

In time, when I began to regain my footing, I realized I only had a couple of choices. This situation wasn’t just about my marriage; this was about me. I could allow this scorching rejection to wreak havoc in my life, as the enemy meant for it to, to be thrown off course, perhaps even fail my children, and veer from God’s call on my life. Or I could allow God to help me move forward, to heal me, to reveal what He had ahead for me, and to possibly even make me better through this.

I knew the latter path was the right choice for me. And God has come through. He’s taught me so many things, including where I find true security. I know now how to fight back against rejection. Rejection still hurts when it comes, but it has far less power over me than it once did.

I want this for you, too. If you are walking through the devastation of betrayal, a loved one’s addiction, abandonment, or any other soul-crushing rejection experience, I am so sorry. The pain is nearly impossible to describe. God has declared two people in a marriage to be one flesh (Genesis 2:24); so when one is disloyal, it is shocking and feels a bit like one of your own hands slapping you across the face. You are left with the deep wounds of emotional and relational injury. Even after those wounds heal, and yes, they can heal, some scars remain. I know because I bear those scars. But to me, they are beautiful reminders of God’s grace and healing.

Jesus said, quoting the Old Testament prophet Isaiah: …He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4:18 NKJV).

I share my journey with the prayer that something I learned will help others survive the storm and to offer hope. Many years have passed since the day my world came crashing down, and God has brought restoration and healing to me, to Tim, and to our marriage. Our relationship is stronger now than ever, but it took a great deal of tears, prayer, counseling, and brutal honesty to get there.

Remember, reconciliation takes two people who are both willing to submit to God, we can’t control what someone else chooses. Even if reconciliation isn’t your story, God’s healing power is a promise, if you are willing to pursue it. I’m not the same person; that day changed me. I’ve learned a great deal. I’m stronger and more compassionate, and I know Christ on a deeper level. If you find yourself walking through a similar rejection, or any type of rejection, my prayer for you is that in Joyce’s story and mine, and in this study, you will also find a new beginning, a catalyst moving you toward your healing.

There are many roads that lead to a broken heart, and thankfully, God has also provided a pathway out of each one. The journey out of rejection and into wholeness is not for the faint-hearted. But don’t give up! The Lord carries healing for all. No one is excluded.

Adapted from the book Healing the Wounds of Rejection by Joyce Meyer and Ginger Stache. Copyright 2025 by Joyce Meyer and Ginger Stache. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Study Question: Read Luke 4:18 (NKJV). How can God work through truth, even painful truth, to bring freedom and healing?

Let’s Pray: “Dear God, the rejection I’ve faced has been so painful that it’s hard for me to see any good in it. Please, show me the truth that You are revealing to me, even in the midst of my pain. And help me to understand that You can bring good into my life, even through the pain. Amen.”