Video Transcript: Welcome to Divorce Recovery Growth

Video 1A: Welcome to Divorce Recovery

Hi, I am Haley Steiner, a CLI presenter.

This course is taught by Rev. Henry Reyenga and Attorney/Pastor Brian DeCook.

Welcome to the Divorce Recovery Growth Course. I am glad you are here, even if the reason you are here is painful, confusing, or not what you ever wanted.

Separation and divorce can touch almost every part of life. It may affect your home, your routines, your finances, your parenting, your friendships, your church life, your identity, and your hope for the future. Some people enter this course feeling shocked. Some feel relieved and guilty about feeling relieved. Some feel angry. Some feel numb. Some are still in the middle of legal decisions. Others went through divorce years ago and are realizing there are still places that need care.

This course begins with grace. Not denial. Not blame. Not pressure. Grace means you are invited to come honestly before God. Psalm 34:18 says, “Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.” God is not far from you in this season.

This course will help you tell the truth, receive grace, build stability, practice wisdom, and walk in hope. You will learn about grief, layered loss, safety, support, identity in Christ, responsibility, forgiveness, boundaries, parenting and family transitions, rebuilding daily life, community, and future relationship discernment.

But this course will not force you to tell your whole story. You do not need to prove your pain. You do not need to upload private court documents, screenshots, medical records, or personal details. Your worksheets are private unless you choose to share selected insights with a trusted leader.

This course is Christian education and discipleship. It is not counseling, legal advice, custody guidance, financial advising, or crisis care. It will not tell you whether to divorce, reconcile, date, or remarry. Those questions may require pastors, counselors, attorneys, doctors, safety advocates, or other qualified helpers.

For this first topic, your goal is simple: begin where you are. Notice what kind of support you need. Identify who is safe and trustworthy. And make a recovery covenant that honors truth, grace, wisdom, and appropriate help.

Jesus says in Matthew 11, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.” That invitation is not for people who have everything figured out. It is for the weary.

Reflection question: What are you carrying right now that you most need to bring honestly before God?

Gentle next step: Before moving on, write one sentence that begins, “In this course, I am asking God for…”