Christian author and former HGTV star Jen Hatmaker, who made waves in evangelical circles for supporting same-sex marriage, revealed over the weekend she is divorcing her husband Brandon, calling the turn of events an “unexpected crisis” and asking people to pray for her and her family.
Hatmaker, who has been married to Brandon since 1993, filed for divorce in Hays County, Texas, on Aug. 21, according to court filings obtained by the Religion News Service.
News of the couple’s split came weeks after the faith-based author asked for prayers July 31 for an unspecified “crisis” her family had been enduring, adding they have been “deeply hurting.”
In early August, the “Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire” author wrote on Instagram, “If you carefully and consistently build the right things into your life, into your soul, into your relationships, into your very character — integrity, loyalty, trustworthiness, goodness, compassion, health, community, honor, faithfulness, love, self-control, kindness — it will all hold when your life unravels. Every bit of it. Crisis doesn’t destroy it; it reveals it.”
Hatmaker pulled the curtain back a little Monday, when she revealed to her social media followers she is divorcing Brandon.
“I don’t know how to say this, and I still cannot believe I am even saying it, but Brandon and I are getting divorced,” she wrote. “Although the details are ours alone, this was completely unexpected, and I remain stunned as we speak. I am shocked, grief-stricken, and broken-hearted.”
As recently as late June, Hatmaker was praising Brandon as one of the “greatest men” she has known. And in a post on their anniversary, Hatmaker wrote, “Keep choosing each other, beloveds. Even past the moment you thought that work was behind you. Even when you can’t quite remember how you felt all those days ago. Even when hope feels impossibly thin. Because even then, even there, I am telling you, new life is still possible.”
Hatmaker begged those whose instinct may be to criticize her to withhold their judgements — at least publicly — reminding those who read about her family’s experiences that their “loss is not for public devouring.”
“We are real people managing this in our real life in real time, and we are doing the absolute best we know how to do,” Hatmaker wrote. “If you pray, pray for us. Hold us so dear to your hearts. We have felt your prayers these last few weeks. We have experienced your mercy. Thank you for being good to us. Know that we are deeply surrounded by love and have not been alone a single second in two months.”
“Please help protect us and keep us safe as we try to heal and rebuild,” she added.