Going Public

As you know if you have read this blog, I have been going through a very tough time recently.  I am finally able to talk some about this situation.  Below is the note I posted on Facebook yesterday:

Dear Friends and Family,

For the past few months, I have been involuntarily placed in a difficult circumstance and have been forced to make some extremely difficult decisions. I am very saddened and heart-broken to inform you that three months ago, Kandice decided to separate from our marriage.

I’m sure that many of you will have questions regarding this. Publicly, I only want to say that I have made every attempt on my part to reconcile our marriage. Kandice’s decision was and is hers and hers alone. Privately, if you would like to message me, I will answer any questions or concerns that you might have.

I also want to tell all of you how much I have agonized over going public with this revelation. This decision has resulted from the counsel of many of my close friends and family in the past few months. There have many tears, a lot of anger, a lot of frustration, and a lot of prayer. Unless you have walked this road, you truly cannot understand the pain that is involved. It is the hardest thing I have ever gone through and that includes the death of my father. Although Kandice’s decision to separate from our marriage was hers and hers alone, the decision and the responsibilities that lie with going public with this information rest very heavy on me and me alone.

As this process continues to unfold, I am asking all of you to please pray for both of us during this very difficult time and please feel free to offer any advice and encouragement you feel lead to give. There are many long and short-term decisions that need to be made and I need the wisdom of God and the people around me to make the best decisions that I can.

I still believe that the only hope that any of us have is the hope of Christ that comes from His salvation alone. Although there have been times in the past three months that I have doubted that, the ministry of the Holy Spirit directly in my life and through my friends and family have consistently confirmed to me that “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 ESV).

Thank you all in advance,

David McDowell