Sleeper, I struggle with this question in my own situation and today I have an answer that I believe is from God.

John 8:1-11
Talks about adultry (same 2000 years ago as it is today), people still seeking Jesus for answers (key I find here is that people were seeking God's answer and not other human beings), and Jesus doesn't condemn...he says "Go and sin no more."

I have read that passage many times before and the thing that stood out the most to me until today was - this woman was married FIVE times. I can't imagine being married five times. I've been married twice that is enough drama for me. whistle But today it has a different meaning...today, I get the message from God that I am not to dwell so much on what I've done wrong in the past but to go forward and sin no more.

Sleeper - thank you for asking this question. For months (probably several years) I have wondered if God wasn't allowing my 2nd marriage to end so that I would go back to my 1st husband. I don't want to go back to my 1st husband. (Another story. It wasn't a physical abusive marriage but my 2nd marriage was/is so much better that I truly don't want to go back to the past.) I have done a lot of praying and I know that I want to do what God instructs me to do. I have wrestled with God. (Usually after I wrestle with God he tells me that I won't be going where I don't want to go alone.) Through all of the months of praying about the situation I have not received "biblical" guidance. I just kept feeling reassured that I was to stand for my 2nd marriage. This crisis that I am in now was not about my 1st marriage. I am doing what He wants me to do "stand for my marriage - this marriage," feelings but no scripture...until today. Today - the passage was so clear to your question and then I realized that it applied to me.

We all view the scriptures in different ways so you need to read the scripture for yourself and come to your own conclusion. John 8:11..."go and sin no more."

I'm sure that I will get a lot of 2x4s because I'm giving my take on scripture but I'll take that risk today. Sorry for the hijack. But again Sleeper, I thank you. I searched for an answer for you and found my own.