A 5-Day Devotional for anyone who has ever endured the pain of rejection or betrayal.

 

When betrayal shatters the life you trusted, where do you turn?
This five-day devotional offers biblical hope for women navigating broken trust, heartbreak, and uncertainty. Through Scripture, reflection, prayer, and scenes woven from my new novel—Beyond Betrayal—you’ll journey alongside Kate Bennett as she discovers God’s faithfulness in the midst of devastating loss.
Whether you’re seeking healing, wisdom, or the courage to take your next step, you’ll be reminded that God is near to the brokenhearted—and that even the deepest wounds can become the doorway to hope.

DAY ONE:
When the Life You Trusted Breaks



Kate’s Story:
Kate Bennett stood alone looking out the window of her room at Villa Santoro, staring into the darkness beyond the olive trees. Only hours earlier, she had laughed around the long wooden table in the courtyard with her three closest friends. After years of talking about it, they were finally in Italy together. The trip that had once felt like only a dream.Then her phone rang and the screen said: HUBBY.At first, nothing in his voice sounded alarming. Tired perhaps. Distant. But not alarming. Until he said her name again.“Kate…”Something inside her tightened instantly.Decades of marriage teaches a woman the emotional patterns in a man’s voice. And suddenly she knew. By the time he finally confessed there was another woman, Kate could barely breathe. The wide window ledge beside her became the only thing holding her upright as his words shattered the life she thought she knew.“I never meant for this to happen.”The sentence echoed hollowly in her mind. As if betrayal had simply wandered into their marriage by accident. Kate pressed her hand against her mouth, fighting the wave of nausea rising inside her chest. Her body felt cold despite the warm Italian night air.“Lord…” she whispered, barely able to form the word.

No polished prayer came after that. Only tears. Deep, trembling grief that seemed to rise from somewhere beneath language itself.

What’s Your Story?
Perhaps you understand that kind of moment. The moment when betrayal does not merely wound your heart—it destabilizes your entire reality. The future you trusted suddenly feels uncertain. Questions rush in faster than answers. And somewhere deep inside, fear whispers: You are alone now.

But Psalm 34 reminds us of something profoundly important: God does not move away from the brokenhearted. He moves closer. Not once we regain our composure. Not after we stop crying. Not when we finally “handle it better.”
He comes near while we are crushed. Near to the confusion swirling in our heart and mind. Near to shock. Near to grief. Near to the woman sitting in darkness wondering how her life changed so quickly.

One of the enemy’s greatest lies after betrayal is this: God has abandoned you.
But devastation does not scare God away. If anything, Scripture shows us that He draws especially close to wounded people.

Perhaps today your own world feels shattered. Maybe trust has been broken. Maybe your marriage or another important relationship feels fragile or uncertain. Maybe you are carrying questions nobody around you fully understands.

Take heart. You do not have to carry this pain alone. The God who sees broken hearts is already near to yours. And even here—in the middle of confusion and heartbreak—His presence remains steady.

Call to Him. Ask Him to comfort you and give you peace. Ask as many times as you need all day long if necessary. He promises peace that surpasses all understanding.

Scripture Focus for Today:
Psalm 34:18
Philippians 4:6 – 4:7

Continue Kate’s Journey in Beyond Betrayal

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in Paperback and Kindle

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Some stories stay with you long after the last page.

 

Here’s what early readers are saying: 

This Christian novel completely captured my heart! The story’s message of healing and redemption was exactly what I needed to hear! It brought me hope, and reminded me that God can redeem even our deepest wounds.  ~ Laurie F.

Beyond Betrayal is the book we would have handed ourselves during the hardest season of our own marriage—a story that doesn’t flinch from the devastation of betrayal or the pride that leads a spouse astray yet extends the kind of grace that makes repentance feel possible and redemption real. Danna writes both Grant and Kate’s journeys with such honest tenderness that husbands and wives alike will find themselves convicted, moved, and quietly asking God what He might be doing in their own unraveling. Every couple who has ever held a broken marriage in trembling hands, or sat with friends who have, needs this book.  ~ Mark and Jill Savage, authors of No More Perfect Marriages, I Really Messed Up, and My Heart is Broken

With her vivid characterizations and gorgeous settings, Danna Demetre tells a story that is gripping, raw, and real.  Beyond Betrayal is a page-turner; I couldn’t put it down and read late into the night, laughing, crying, and cheering Kate on.  This powerful, hope-filled story truly does stay with you long after you have turned the last page.  ~ Susan Grygier, Advance Reader

Beyond Betrayal by Danna Demetre is a captivating novel filled with realistic characters, authentic relationships, and profound spiritual insight. Demetre’s compelling storytelling draws readers so deeply into the lives of her characters that they may find themselves praying for their futures and cheering for their redemption. More than an engaging story, this novel offers rich, godly wisdom for marriages in every season. Beautifully written and deeply moving, Beyond Betrayal draws readers closer to the God of love, grace, forgiveness, and restoration while inspiring greater honesty, wisdom, and hope in their own lives.
~ Pam Farrel, author of 60+ books including bestselling Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti and Red Hot Monogamy.