When Everything Falls Apart—What Do You Do?

Evelyn Collins
3 minutes ago
4 min read

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Can you remember a time when you felt wounded beyond repair? The world collapsed around you and threatened to rob you of joy. Your life, once vibrant and full of promise, lay in shattered fragments at your feet. How do you navigate the arduous journey from brokenness to healing? Wholeness emerges when you redirect your gaze away from the chaos of others and the turmoil of your circumstances, focusing instead on a higher purpose, on God. Then life changes, and good things happen. In that profound shift of perspective, life transforms, and unexpectedly beautiful moments unfold again.

Understanding the Misalignment of Focus in Seeking Divine Intervention

Years ago, I cried to the Lord, begging Him to change my life. Since I sought the Lord in prayer, I felt my focus was on Him, not realizing I focused on my problem rather than Christ. I sought God’s intervention, not His will. Struggling, I remained in a miserable marriage, because I thought He wanted me to stay in it. “Marriage is a lifetime commitment,” I would repeat to myself. I quit my job, and we sold our home. My husband at the time and I took our girls several states away from family and friends. But life did not change for the better—our marriage failed. God didn’t intervene or restore our marriage.

The heartache I felt being in a new town without family or friends, while my marriage failed, devastated me. Glowing embers of love faded into ashes. Broken vows and abandoned dreams died. Through the bitterness of unfaithfulness, I discovered God’s faithfulness. He placed me in a job surrounded by supportive Christian friends and a wonderful church.

Guided by the Spirit of God, these individuals helped me recognize my true value and potential. They demonstrated God’s love toward me and supported me during a challenging period. They became like family, encouraging me to embrace my new identity in Christ and walk forward in His grace (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Finding Strength and Security Through Faith in God

With my life in God’s hands, my heart and mind focused on Him alone, I desired nothing else. When I lean on God, I’m stronger and more secure because God loves me. I expect great things from my life. While change is challenging, the rewards are worth it.

I learned several things from this difficult season in life.

· Praying to God doesn’t mean seeking Him or His will.

· God may not change our circumstances, but He can change us.

· Seek God’s direction, rather than relying on emotions, wisdom, or strength.

· Restoration begins when we yield to God’s will and walk in obedience.

· God is faithful, even if hardship results from disobedience or failure to surrender.

· Lean on His strength rather than our weakness.

Finding Purpose Through Trusting God

Days of pain and heartache are much a part of this world. Our trust is in God, both now and for eternity. When we receive Christ as our savior, his spirit is with us each day of our lives. God did not design us to depend upon our ability.

When we surrender to God, He heals us and brings joy and purpose. When we feel weak, we can still face each day with God’s strength. He wants us to depend on him. God often chooses the weak, so others recognize His power in accomplishing the work. So, with each success, we conclude a miracle occurred — to God be the glory!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your loving care and for directing me on the right path. Forgive me for seeking to go alone rather than ask for guidance. Help me surrender my will and accept the divine path before me. I pray my pleas for help include “thy will be done” because I can’t understand the way to go without revelation from above. Amen.

Your turn: When have you felt your world collapse around you? It’s a question many of us can relate to at different points in our lives. For me, it was during a particularly tumultuous period filled with disappointments and challenges that seemed insurmountable. It felt as though everything I had built—relationships, dreams, and security—was crumbling away, leaving me in a state of despair. During that troubling time, did you call upon the Lord? What were your words to Him, and His response?

In those moments of darkness, I found myself turning to prayer. I remember being on my knees, feeling vulnerable and lost. My words to the Lord were raw and honest; I spoke of my fears, my pain, and my feelings of abandonment. “Why is this happening to me? Why do I feel so alone?” I begged for guidance, strength, and a sense of peace that felt utterly out of reach. Get honest before God. What specific guidance, strength, and peace do you need right now?