Ep:29 Ps. Emma Lorrie Cooke: Healed and restored - divorce and miscarriage

The Full Life Podcast with Melanie Lynam

Today I’m talking with Pastor Emma Lorrie Cooke, who together with her husband Jared are the Campus Hillsong Pastors of Sunshine Coast South. After 8 years of a previous marriage, at the age of 30, Emma found herself single and divorced. We talk about what led to that divorce, what steps Emma took toward healing and restoration, and how she dealt with the shame that she felt. Emma gives really great encouragement for anyone else walking out that journey. We also talk about what it’s like pioneering a church with 2 small children, and then we spend some time on a topic that is perhaps not talked about enough and that is miscarriage, which sadly Emma had to also walk through a couple of times. But God is good and Emma testifies to His goodness in her life so grab a cuppa, or settle into that task or workout, because you’re gonna be so blessed. Here’s my conversation with Pastor Emma Lorrie Cooke.

“You feel robbed of time.”

“Here I was suddenly single celebrating my 30th birthday and it wasn’t how I expected my 30th to be.” But God isn’t constrained to time.

Took 3 years to be restored from divorce.

Do you get to a point where it doesn’t hurt anymore? Absolutely. Zero pain attached to story. “I have to remind myself that I actually lived that life.” Puts that to the supernatural aspect. That’s the power of God.

“When you put your life in God’s hands and you give him full reign to restore you…that day will come when you do feel restored.”

You are left with scars and consequences.

“Keep trusting Him and keep moving forward and live by His Word.”

Apply His Word and live by it.

“God I’m a basket case if you don’t help me.” Resolute thinking is what made the process quicker for her because she just threw herself at God and His ways and His time.

Received counselling for a year because “I was determined, this isn’t going to be baggage in my life. I’m not going to be destroyed by this. God, if you are the restorative God I know that you are, you’ve got another life on the other side of this.”

Go get help. Unravel your thinking so that you can understand yourself better.

How she coped with the shame. Psalm 34:18 God is close to the broken hearted, to those who are feeling pain. He brings them close. The only shame that is attached is from the enemy. “The enemy loves to attach shame to our life situations that seem to society are a failure in life.” The enemy loves to attach lies to pain but God’s heart is always open.

She loved being in a safe church, a safe Christian environment that didn’t punish her for what she was going through. Being on a roster and a part of a team really helped pull her to church.

Promises she held on to were Jeremiah 29:11 and He won’t leave me or forsake me. Printed out who I am in Christ. Had to confess over her life.

The label of divorce can be really binding for someone’s life. That’s just society and our own minds, not God.

Miscarriage and Infertility

2nd child after 2 miscarriages.

“You have no idea if you just hope one more time and you stir faith one more time you actually give Heaven the ability to perform a miracle in your life.”

Follow Emma on Instagram @emmalorriecooke

Hillsong Sunshine Coast South @hillsongsunshinecoaststh

Follow Mel on Instagram @mel_lynam

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