This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce

Vaneetha Rendall Risner

Apr 2026 · The Good Book Company

Ebook

192

Pages

Tools

Eligible

Switch to the audiobook

About this ebook

Honest, compassionate guidance for navigating the heartache of divorce, rooted in God’s word and based on personal experience.

Divorce brings a storm of emotions—grief, anger, confusion and shame. Yet while the ache lingers, life goes on.

Vaneetha Risner has walked through this pain. In this hopeful and honest book, she draws from Scripture and her own story to offer compassionate wisdom on...

Finding emotional clarity and letting go of shame

Trusting God in the uncertainties ahead

Healing relationally, resisting bitterness and finding community

Nurturing hope for the future

She also shares about navigating single parenting, church, dating and the work of rebuilding.

Whether you are in the early stages of divorce or beginning to restore your life, this book points to Christ’s faithful presence every step of the way. Helpful “check-ins” throughout invite you to pause, reflect and take hold of God again and again.

Includes appendices to guide friends and church leaders in supporting you.

Honest, compassionate guidance for navigating the heartache of divorce, rooted in God’s word and based on personal experience. Divorce brings a storm of emotions—grief, anger, confusion and shame. Yet while the ache lingers, life goes on. Vaneetha Risner has walked through this pain. In this hope...

Discover more

About the author

Vaneetha Rendall Risner is passionate about helping others find hope and joy in the midst of suffering. Her story includes contracting polio as a child, losing an infant son unexpectedly, developing post-polio syndrome and going through an unwanted divorce, all of which have forced her to deal with issues of loss. She and her husband, Joel, live in Raleigh, North Carolina, and have four daughters between them. Vaneetha holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Stanford and is the author of several books, including This Was Never the Plan, Watching for the Morning and her memoir, Walking Through Fire. She is a regular contributor to Desiring God. She blogs at her website, vaneetha.com, and is obsessed with colorful colorful office supplies and dark chocolate. Paul Tripp is a best-selling author and the president of Paul Tripp Ministries. He is the bestselling author of numerous books related to the Christian life and pastoral ministry, including New Morning Mercies and Parenting.

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets

Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.

Laptops and computers

You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.

eReaders and other devices

To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.

Flag as inappropriate