As the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa TerKeurst has made a name for herself as a role model for godly women and a champion for strong marriages. Thus, many of her loyal followers were startled at the divorce announcement she posted on her blog last June.
“I so wish we were sitting face-to-face so you could see my tears and hear the deep grief in my voice as I share this with you,” Lysa opened in the soul-baring entry entitled “Rejection, Heartache, and a Faithful God.”
She cited her husband Art’s repeated infidelity and substance abuse for the demise of their nearly 25-year marriage:
“My husband, life partner and father of my children, Art TerKeurst, has been repeatedly unfaithful to me with a woman he met online, bringing an end to our marriage of almost 25 years. For the past couple of years, his life has sadly been defined by his affection for this other woman and substance abuse. I don’t share this to harm or embarrass him, but to help explain why I have decided to separate from him and pursue a divorce.”
After facing what she called the “hardest battle of [her] life” to save her marriage over the last two years, Lysa shared that God has revealed she has done all she can and “must release him to the Savior.”
Though tempted to take the startling blow as personal failure, the prolific author and speaker decided to put into practice what she preaches through surrender and trusting that God’s redemptive ways are higher.
And lo and behold, almost exactly a year later, her humble act of surrendering her marriage appears to be bearing amazing fruit.
Lysa posted the following message to Facebook on Father’s Day, alongside a picture of their smiling, reunited family:
Facebook
“A gift. A hard prayed for and fought for, glorious, messy, miraculous, honest, treasured gift of together. Happy Father’s Day Art! The way you have pursued the Lord, healing, and us… is evidence of God’s supernatural grace and goodness.
I’m praying for everyone praying for a miracle today. God has a plan but it will probably unfold in a way you never thought it would.”
Whether it be through handling divorce graciously or working to piece their marriage back together, God is clearly working a miracle of restoration in the TerKeurst family.
The news came as a great encouragement to Lysa’s fans navigating through a difficult season of “waiting” themselves.
“Just wanted to say I’m in a difficult season of waiting some days it seems the end is never coming,” commented Facebook user Angela Tate. “But I can always count on you to have the right words and scripture to keep pressing on. We are praying hard for the miracle of growing our family.”
“Praying for a very similar miracle,” added Allison Bristow Thrush. “Trying to trust God and not give up. Scared I’m not hearing God the way He wants me to. Tired.. But I truly believe God desires this man’s heart even more than I do. That He put us together.”
Lysa’s unexpected but exciting announcement also led others who have won the battle for their marriages to share their stories.
“I just knew The Lord would redeem this,” wrote Jennifer Terrance. “He did for me and my husband too when we had a very similar situation. I’m SO beyond overjoyed for you all! I’m continuing to pray for your husband and family.
Regardless of what the future may hold for Lysa and Art TerKeurst, we’re so excited that God’s hand is actively working in their relationship and family bond. Please join us in praying for complete restoration, that God may continue to work in the heart of Art to fervently pursue Him, Lysa, and their family—and that others may continue to be encouraged by their unfolding redemption story.
