How to proceed when your wife asks for divorce?

Question:

Peace to you, brother Vasile. May you help me with an advice? My wife wants to remarry another man and asks me for divorce. What to do? We do not live together for a long time and have a daughter together who is going to school soon. I am very sorry for her because she is suffering.

I am very sorry for the situation you are in and which brings you so much pain and sufferings. I supose your wife has asked you this and before but you did not give it to her because you were hoping to restore the relationship and marriage. About such situations the Holy Scripture says:

Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in suhc cases, but God has called us to peace. 1 Corinthians 7:15

You cannot force your wife to stay if she wants to leave. Marriage is a covenant which is signed by free consent of each and so it should last. If she was unfaithful to this covenant and wants to break it, you cannot resist to her choise. If you think it is posible to change anything, you can make an attempt to get back together and to restore your marriage, but if your wife still insists to give her the divorce, do not resist it because God has called us to leave in peace.

As for the girl, you need to make a dealing with your wife and tell her that you have the same rights and if the girl will live with her, to have the posibility to see the girl and to teach her from the Word of God, but also to contribute material and in everything it will be needed in her growing up.

May God comfort your heart and give you the peace of Christ which is above all human understanding so you will be able to pass through this great crisis from your life.