From Rejection to Restoration: My Journey Through Divorce and Faith

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My name is Cureene L. Benefield and this is my Testimony.

“When you go through hard stuff, that's when you meet the real you.”

I surely met the real me—and I was surprised by who I saw.

It was 2003. I was twenty-five, newly married, and learning to adapt to the role of a wife. In order to do that, I put ministry activities and servanthood aside in pursuit of becoming what I thought a “good wife” should be.

When My Happiness Depended on Him

I found my identity in that role. But quickly, I noticed that my happiness was being controlled by my husband's emotions and insecurities. My motives were often questioned, or I’d be shut out because of his anger. I found myself walking on eggshells.

Over time, I became unrecognizable. I lost myself trying to please him—unknowingly making him an idol over God.

The Breaking Point: Grief, Distance, and Silence

Things were rocky on and off for seven years. Then, in 2010, everything began to shift. My husband lost his father, and I started noticing him running—not just from me, but from God. I felt like I was losing him completely.

No matter what I did, he pushed me away. He became distant and cold. I felt rejected. And that left a lasting impression on my heart. I was deeply hurt and lost in what my marriage was becoming.

I no longer knew what to do to make him love me—or even stay. We were drifting apart, and he seemed okay with it.

Finding God Again Through Sisters Empowering Sisters

One day, I was invited back to my sister’s organization, Sisters Empowering Sisters. (SES) While I was there, the leader, Minister Angie, spoke to me and said something I’ll never forget:

“What you’re looking for can only be found in the Lord.”

That moment changed everything. I began to pursue God again. I started going to more meetups, fasting, reading scripture, and diving into books by Joyce Meyer. My faith was growing. My convictions were deepening. And I began to feel peace.

I remember Minister Angie asking me,

“What if God doesn’t mend it?”

That question hit me. And I began to accept that possibility. It felt like God was preparing me for what was coming. My husband had started expressing—although vaguely—that he no longer wanted the “responsibility” of marriage.

Letting Go: Choosing Peace Over Pleasing

At home, we were just surviving one another. Sometimes he’d be there, sometimes he wouldn’t. I wasn’t being seen. I knew where this was going.

One day, after church, I packed his things. I felt like he wanted to leave but didn’t know how. Though it was difficult, God gave me the strength to be better, not bitter.

In 2011, we filed for divorce. I no longer wanted to stay with someone who wasn’t sure of what he wanted. I felt rejected and abandoned. And even though I didn’t feel like I had anything to praise God for—I still praised Him.

God Was Orchestrating Something New

During that time, God was orchestrating something beautiful behind the scenes. He was aligning my path with the man who is now my husband.

This man was so caring. He did things I never asked him to do—like washing dishes, mowing the lawn, even buying me a TV. He was a genuine friend to me. Over time, he began to pursue me, and we laid boundaries for our friendship and eventually, our relationship.

God wasn’t just healing my heart—He was opening it back up.

Love Restored: A New Relationship Rooted in Faith

In 2016, he proposed. And in 2017, we got married.

It’s amazing to realize that my now-husband was around during the hardest seasons of my previous marriage—but he always respected me and never crossed boundaries. He was a true friend before anything else.

God Gave Me Back More Than I Lost

God restored everything I thought I had lost—everything I thought I’d never have.

There was a time when dysfunction used to be my function. But now, I have everything I ever prayed for.

I’m especially grateful for Sisters Empowering Sisters (SES)—that organization was the community I needed. Without realizing it, Minister Angie had become a mentor to me. She helped coach me through recovery.

💡 Lessons I Learned Through the Pain

What I’ve learned is this:

Trust God—even when things don’t make sense.

He will work it out. Nothing is wasted.

And your story? It’s not just for you. It’s for someone else—someone who needs your compassion and your testimony.

I’ve learned through my story that God is a keeper and a redeemer.

Whatever you went through, qualifies you to speak on it now.

So, go through your season well—with a good attitude. When it gets the hardest, the best of you should show up.

Say: “God, this hurt so good… so it has to be good.”

Or

"Lord, you think i'm that good to go through this?"

This is how we can throw off the enemy from using our emotions against us. though it was the worst year for me, naturally that time was the best spiritually.

Share this testimony with a friend 🧡 🔗