I never really thought I was a prime candidate for adultery. I was committed to our marriage, and I didn’t think I was what you would call “high risk.” So how did I get there?
The best description I ever heard was “baby steps.” I let myself get into a position of innocent intimacy with another female. Our conversations were innocent enough —family, friends, and ministry. But one baby step led to another and to another, and before I could turn and run, I was in way too deep.
Falling Away From Faithfulness
Falling was much easier than I’d ever believed possible. And at that point in our marriage, I was angry with Mona for putting me on the back burner of her priorities. I could point to many reasons why I could be angry with her, but the bottom line is that I felt she didn’t want me in any way at all.
But she was my wife. I loved her. I had made a commitment to her before God when we said our marriage vows. “I’m in for life,” I always said. But adultery changed things. When God brought me to that point of brokenness and it was time to get this all out in the open, I felt a sense of commitment that I knew could only come from God. I would use all my strength to convince Mona I was here to stay, and nothing she could do or say would change that. And boy, did I find out that she could do and say plenty! It had to be God’s strength that fashioned in me what I called “armadillo skin.” She used words I had never heard her say before. But I was committed.
Answering Questions After Adultery
After a few months on this plane, I found out what commitment was all about. I had started out with a purposed and diligent attitude. I was there at all hours —and I mean all hours —with answers to her questions. We talked and I explained until I ran out of words. And then I got mad.
“Here we go again”, I thought. I was angry and tired. It wasn’t going like I’d thought it would. I’d figured if I could just get right with God and confess my sin, he would reward me with a healing process. Yes, I had sinned, but I had also obeyed and dealt with the sin honestly—with God and with Mona and with my church.
I had done everything the way I was supposed to, yet the situation just wouldn’t get any better. I had expected a rocky road, but I hadn’t expected the road to get steeper and more treacherous with time. It seemed the more I tried to smooth things over, the angrier Mona got. Her barrage of questions continued to increase, and my anger reached new depths. I had committed the sin, yes, but how much punishment was I supposed to take?
Suspicious Questioning
After a few months, the shock wore off for Mona. I think she honestly wanted to forgive me and keep the marriage going, but as she became convinced of my sincerity, she grew angrier and more demanding. She insisted that I spend every waking moment convincing her I was here for the duration, that I wasn’t going to quit. And I had better answer every question exactly as I had answered that same question the last time and the time before and the time before. Any slight variance in my answer was cause for suspicion. Why had my answer changed? What wasn’t I telling her? What lie had I just been caught in? It was an endless assault.
Is this the life, the wife, I can expect from here on out? Am I to never be more than her whipping boy? It seemed the further we went into the supposed healing process, the further we went from a marriage partnership. I was beginning to lose hope. Quite frankly, I figured if this was the way our lives were going to be, I wasn’t interested.
Why God?
So what’s up with this, God? You brought me through for this? You’ve guided me —here? I’ve been faithful in every way since my confession. So where are you? Where is your mighty healing power? I thought you were on my side.
As I sat there screaming this prayer to God, I began to feel guilty. Who was I? The adulterer! The infidel! Who was I to think I deserved anything better? The issues that had brought Mona and me here were becoming more evident to me. I was beginning to understand why couples didn’t survive infidelity. I was questioning our survival for the first time.
God’s allowance of divorce for adultery was beginning to make sense. The wounds were so deep for both of us. The intense pain pushed me to think about self-preservation and less about “us” preservation. But through all this I knew in my spirit that God wanted us to survive; it was in his will for our marriage to make it. But where are you, God? Where are you now?
God’s Revelation
Then I heard His still, quiet voice say, “I’m right here. And Gary, I’d rather have you right here, angry with Me, than not here with Me at all.”
Those few words spoke volumes to me, that picture of a loving Father wanting His angry son. How gracious He is. My anger didn’t push Him away. Our relationship meant more to Him than how I was behaving at the moment or how I had behaved in the past. His was the ultimate example of commitment.
Staying Committed After Adultery
Within a few short moments, a rush of understanding flooded my mind and heart. Suddenly I saw the parallel of my relationship with God in my relationship with Mona. The agape, self-sacrificial love that God has for me was the only model I could follow to get us through this crisis. It wasn’t going to come from me, but from Him through me. The main thing I needed to do was to stay committed to God, to Mona, and to our marriage recovery. Not in my strength, Lord, but in Yours.
This article comes from the book, UNFAITHFUL… Rebuilding Trust After Infidelity, written by Gary and Mona Shriver, published by Life Journey. This is an absolutely terrific book! We can’t recommend it highly enough! Mona and Gary have been through this horrible experience themselves. “More than ten years ago, Gary Shriver shocked his wife Mona, with a confession of his three-year affair —as well as a one-night stand.” It devastated their marriage! After Gary’s confession they struggled to keep their marriage together with all the strength they could muster and the Lord’s very real help! You will read about the Shriver’s journey to healing in this book.
You can reach the authors Gary and Mona Shriver, at Hopeandhealing.us.
I am the adulter and I am desperate for help…My husband found out only days ago. We are trying to work it out for the sake of our daughter but his pain is so insurmountable. I am trying to stay strong for the sake of our daughter and am desperate for any advice as to how I can help him. Thank God, he is (at this point) wanting to work through this, but I know that at any moment he has the right to leave.
We have seen a priest and are hoping to find counseling soon but we live in a very small town and there aren’t many resources. I related to this article because the moment my husband found out, it was like a veil was lifted and I suddenly saw all the love and good things he had for us. I also felt immediately called to live my life as a prayer and dedicate myself to him, my daughter and God.
I’m praying for God to act through me but I feel as though I’m so desperate to help my husband in any way I’m the only person he has (he says) for support which is beyond devastating…for both of us. I can’t imagine trying to find solace from the person who broke your heart. Please help us; I am so guilt-ridden but beyond determined to give us every fighting chance we can get. Please help us…
Claire, I’m so glad that you woke up and that you are trying to help your husband. I thank God that he is reaching out to you at this point. May he find relief in his pain, as he seeks help. I believe that God Himself is opening up to you and to both of you to help you get your life in a better place… I sense that sincerely.
The best thing I can recommend to you is for you and your husband to read through the many articles we have posted on infidelity and adultery. There are a lot of them. But the ones who wrote them are ones who are experienced in, and many of them have lived through this type of devastation. Pray, glean through the info and apply what you believe God would have you –customized for your marriage. You may even want to obtain some of the recommended resources, and reach out to some of the web sites we have posted on this, to read further and possibly get additional counsel. With the Internet and Skyping available, you have many more counseling possibilities open to you than you would have years ago. Look for godly counsel though… that which is also “marriage-friendly.” If you can’t find it, God will help you in other ways as you reach out to Him. But don’t eliminate the possibility that God will want to reach out through counselors that specialize in helping couples get through adultery issues.
You need help in not only adultery issues but also marriage issues, because something was lacking or your marriage needed more help in different ways, so it wouldn’t have been as vulnerable. Sometimes it’s more of a temptation issue, than a marriage issue, but whatever it was or is, you need to strengthen your marriage in that or those area(s). I hope our web site can help you. But I especially hope you reach out to the Lord to personally guide you as your “Wonderful Counselor” that the Bible refers to Him to be, and as your Lord, to guide you into a better relationship with Him and with each other –which has been our saving grace, in our marriage. I pray God’s best for you both as you seek Him. This is a painful journey, but one that can lead you to beautiful possibilities as you reach out for God’s help.
I’ve been married for 7 years, but unfaithful for many more. I am a Christian wife and a mother to a 3 year old. Before you judge me, hear me out. I work with my husband and my best friend (who happens to be a guy). I have always been suspicioned of having something to do with this guy, and I haven’t –I thought he was my friend.
And then I met my husband and he asked me to marry him; so I did. But I maintained and continue to maintain my friendship with my guy friend. I protect him and “treat him better than” my husband (says my husband).
I’m not going to lie. My husband and I have almost gotten divorced like a million times in the past 7 years because he has treated me so wrong (verbally abusive) and always accused me of having something with this best friend of mine.
My husband was supposedly a Christian when I married him too, but recently he became a REAL Christian; there’s a total difference. He loves the Lord and lives for the Lord. Total difference.
And then… four months ago… my husband tells me he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt he has to come clean with me: he’s cheated on me off and on (various women) for 7 years!!!!!!! starting 3 weeks after we were married. But the dilema is he’s a Christian now -for real. I’m angry and hurt and have no one to turn to. So of course, you can guess, I turned to my guy friend.
And my guy friend has now confessed, “I have had a thing for you for 10 years. I’m in love with you and I can’t hide it anymore. I’ve tried to respect your marriage, but clearly your husband hasn’t either. I’m telling you what you and I have together is real.”
I REALLY wanted to hear those words from my guy friend before I even met my husband; and now I have a biblical reason to leave my husband, but is it for selfish reasons? I’m not interested in my husband at all anymore; I really am in love with my best friend. It’s shameful to admit because Yes, I am technically married. Now I’m the sinner. So I’m asking you guys, what should I do?!!!!!!!!!!
Jenny, This is so complicated, it’s difficult to address this in this forum, but here goes. First off, whether you had a “friendship” with this other guy before you married, once you married, you are just continually walking the temptation line if you continue that “friendship” on the same level. Once you make a vow to marry one person, your behavior with all others needs to change. You need to protect your marriage, which you obviously didn’t. The reason I put the term “friendship” into quotation marks is because I believe that far too many women are in La-la land as far as what a friendship involves with a man –both before marrying and afterward. There is a video on YouTube, which I recommend you watch that will give a bit of insight into what I’m saying. You can find it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_lh5fR4DMA.
As your “guy friend” confessed, he has had “a thing” for you for a long, long time. I’m thinking that you knew this, at least part of the time, but dismissed it –thus, putting your wants over any type of agony he and your husband had over this whole situation. That’s truly not a good thing. YOU may not have had those same feelings for at least a good part of that time, but you have to face it, you were playing with fire. What you did and what your husband did in cheating, whether it was in actuality (his affairs) or just flirting, and ignoring everyone else’s feelings concerning your “friendship” was just plain wrong.
I’m glad your husband confessed and I’m glad that he is now a Christian “for real.” He seems to now be dealing with reality, which gives him (and hopefully you) the opportunity to bring Truth to the forefront –no more secrets and deceptions! But I’m not thinking that you’re dealing with reality yet. You write, “now I have biblical reasons to leave my husband.” That means that you’re looking for a fire escape, while saying “yes, I am technically married.” Essentially what I’m reading is “yes, I’m technically married, but I don’t want to be, so do I really have to stay in this marriage even though I suspect that I have ‘selfish reasons’ for wanting to leave? After-all, I REALLY wanted to hear those words (that this guy loves you) before I even met my husband, and since he cheated, is there an escape clause written into my wedding vows so I can leave without feeling too bad?”
Nope! If you don’t work with your husband to try to rebuild this marriage on Truth, rather than a whole lot of game-playing, such as has been going on, and dump this guy who had/has no business being your “friend” in the same way he was before you married, then you’re just walking further and further into a mess. I don’t care what this guy meant to you or means to you, it’s an adulterous affair –regardless of what your husband did. His sin is separate from yours. And the fact that you have a 3-year old who is in the middle of all of this –a child you are teaching moral and integrity issues to, I’m sure, makes this all the messier –now and in the future as your child grows up and gets to the point of questioning all of this. And trust me, it WILL happen.
Jenny, I’m sure you’re a nice person. And I’m sure that a lot of this was done in naivety, but at this point in your life you have some important choices to make. You made vows before God and so did your husband. This guy only played on the sidelines with your vows and didn’t honor them. He may be a nice guy in many ways, but I wouldn’t trust him. Marriage vows sure don’t seem to be sacred to him. They also don’t seem to have been sacred to you or your husband, but the difference is that you have the opportunity to do things the right way at this point. You ARE married. That is a fact… not a “technicality.” You both cheated (whether physically, emotionally, or both). You both sinned… but God is waiting with open arms to say, “yes, you both sinned, but let Me show you what I can do for sinners who totally repent, yield to My Lordship, and devote themselves to building their marriage and home upon the Solid Rock of Christ.”
Will it be easy? Absolutely not! You have opened a door and let the enemy of our faith in to play around for a time… those demons don’t go away without having to pay MUCH and work A LOT on shoving them and then keeping out. But you made vows, you have a child who deserves better behavior from his or her parents, and you have a “cloud of witnesses” that are watching your lives. What will it say to them when you and your husband divorce, you marry this guy (who was obviously there when he shouldn’t have been), and what does it say to your vows to follow Christ? What do you think Jesus would tell you to do? Do you REALLY believe He would say that “technically” you are married, but it’s okay to dump out of this marriage to marry someone else who shouldn’t have been in your life like he was after you married your original husband? I’m not thinking so at all.
This will be the most difficult time in your life –to let go of that, which you shouldn’t have held onto and played with in the first place (but you did), and instead, to invest in your relationship with your husband, in a marriage where your feelings for him and your commitment have been shoved away from you for many more reasons that we can go into here. But whatever you do Jenny, please, don’t allow yourself to believe the lie that because you hurt so badly, or because your feelings have slidden into a different direction than they should have –that solutions to cheat and do that, which you should not, are acceptable. They are not.
You asked for opinions on this… I’m giving it here. The world might tell you otherwise, but I believe you look up to God, confess all you should and then ask for His help to do what I believe you know deep down in your heart that you should do. I believe that you then look your child in the eyes and say, “mommy is going to love you and love God enough to do what I know I should do, even though it will be very, very difficult.” And then I believe you tell this guy good-bye and get him out of your life in every way possible. Don’t see him again, work with him, or anything… release him to look for someone else that isn’t married, no matter how much he protests. You are not his to have and he is not yours to have –your wedding vows sealed that into reality, not technicality.
And then I believe you should go to your husband and say, “Okay, if you are willing, so am I. I want to commit myself to start, along with you, if you are willing, to build this marriage on solid ground –to learn to love and treat each other as God would have us –to reveal and reflect the heart of God, from this day forward.”
That’s what I believe you should do with all my heart. I believe God wants to build a redemptive story into your relationship with your husband if you and he are willing. I hope you will… and if you will, I pray the Lord helps you in all the ways you need it. Even so, it will be killer hard… but so, so worth it.
P.S. To help you deal with your feelings for this other man, I recommend you read the following article and then as many of the postings underneath it that you can http://host.agencysrvr.com/~marriage/getting-unhooked-from-an-emotional-affair/. The community of gals and guys here have dealt with similar feelings and are supportive and pray for each other. You will DEFINITELY need help. I pray this does help.
Demons have access to you intellect, emotions and memories. This, ‘thing’ feeling you and your friend have will change on the day you marry him. Demons pull people in a direction that is opposite to God. When we have our agenda that excludes
God’s will, then it makes it easy for demons to operate.
Here, your course should be to follow God. Immerse yourself in reading the New Testament. Get help. Don’t talk to your friend. Move to a different country. Spend time with God. Have Godly ambitions of serving Him.
Hi my name is Karina. I’ve been married for 12 years now, but committed adultery two years ago. This isn’t the first time I’ve been with another man, but it was the first time I was caught. At the time I wanted nothing with the marriage anymore but my husband didn’t want to end the marriage. I know it’s crazy but I’ve always loved my husband and I love him now so much, and am 100% committed to doing everything to make it work. But his heart and his words hurt me. I don’t want to be the victim cuz I am not. But I don’t know what to do.
It’s obvious this has turned habitual for you. If you continue to cheat, why stay married? It’s not fair to your husband. Just pray your husband isn’t the type that internalizes because if he does, at some point that anger and bitterness will appear, and it won’t be pretty.
No man in their right frame of mind would sit around after multiple times, unless you’ve kept a lot from him. This is coming from a man who just found out his wife is cheating on him and their 6 kids. I feel sorry for your husband because he’s not getting your full commitment that was promised to him on your wedding day. He is clearly being cheated.
Pray the New Testament all the time. Keep in God. dwell in God. Lose yourself in Christ. just fill your mind with Christ. Be married to Christ. Seek to understand Christ’s love for you. Hold on tightly to Jesus. He loves you. The only way to heal is to live for Christ. You have to forget yourself. May your inner person be someone you never knew, a person who is power, love ,and a sound mind in motion. Be in Christ.
Hi, I’ve been married to my husband for four years this month. He is in the military and has been in Korea for a year now. I came into this marriage with my son who was 5 at the time. I had been single since my son’s biological father beat me every week and decided to leave when I saw my son, at only a few months old at the time, was about to be hurt.
When I met my husband I had been through the worst but had a wonderful job, nice home, car, and my son and I were great. I’ll admit being a single mom was lonely, and I desperately wanted the love of a husband and father for my son. We only knew each other for 3 months before we got married. Even the beginning was rocky. He was on his way out of the military. However, growing up in a military family, I knew people and my family helped him tremendously.
So he stayed in we pcsd and that’s when the real real stuff started. I had already caught him online several times before we moved but never really thought he’d go as far as meeting them. Well, a year and a half later I find over 300 photos of naked women and conversations between them. We argued and fought and ironically enough, he’d just get angry and shut down. At one point he even said he wasn’t in love with me after begging me to forgive the week prior. Then he said he wanted to let me go because when he goes to Korea, he wants to travel, and have fun, and doesn’t want to hurt me if he messes up.
As heartbroken as I was I wasn’t going to stay if those were his intentions. So we didn’t talk for days. I started packing. He saw a lawyer and then came home and told me he only has to give me 600 bucks a month and if I stay in the apartment I need to find a way to pay for it… I’m like ??? Really? So I said I was moving back to my parents and he could have it. He went on to tell me that if I just let him have female friends and give him time we could work this out. Well… I said no thank you. Of course, he got upset, took all the money out the account, and wouldn’t speak to me. Finally someone contacted him after he posted on Facebook this marriage was over and gave him sound advice about what he was about to lose and he needed to grow up because there was nothing in Korea worth losing a wife who has always had your back and been faithful and abandoning a boy who already didn’t have a father and calls you dad.
So after all of that he comes apologizing to me, begging me to stay, saying he was just confused and angry with himself. Now I’m all for forgiveness and since I didn’t think anything took place yet I was willing to work on it.
Well, months went by and it was getting closer for him to leave. He started getting distant and as always with me and I promise to God this is how I always find out… something tells me… hey April, pick up his phone or check his pants pocket, and every time I always find something. This time when I went to grab it as we were just sitting there reading he grabs it and holds on to it for dear life, and won’t let me have it. He says I need to start trusting him. Well, I refused to leave the sight of him or that phone until I had seen what was in it, and he said he’ll show me but I can’t touch it. Well, he had an alternate email hidden in the corner. When I told him to click on it… of course, there were naked pictures and conversations. Heartbroken once again, I left crying. He had no sympathy and just said it’s not that serious; he was getting the last bit out of his system and he was done.
Silly me, I took him back but did not trust him for one second. I kept telling him that these behaviors are gateways and he needs to pull it together and stop. Well, after that we were okay for a month. Then I started noticing he said he was going to the gym and since it was about a ten minute walk from the apartment a little voice said again, walk over and see if he’s there. Of course, both times and just the times I went he had went several others, but both times he wasn’t there and refused to answer his phone.
When he did show up it was late and all he did was avoid me and not care about the gut wrenching cries in the other room as he went to sleep in our bed. A few weeks later he really started being mean and distant. Now this may sound stupid but honestly, he isn’t a mean person; he’s actually overly happy all the time, has A.D.D. and is extremely gullible so when he’s mean it’s like I know something happened.
Well, he left the house without warning and was gone for two days. When I finally contacted his sister he was sleeping on their couch. Initially he hung up on me. When I called back he said that he didn’t want to hurt me anymore and is afraid once again that if he goes to Korea he may cheat and doesn’t want to put me through that. But he asked me not to contact anyone and ruin his career “now a sgt” from no rank when I met him because he had been demoted from specialist to nothing. But he said if his career is ruined, let it be him and not me. So immediately I was heartbroken once again, with all the back and forth. I didn’t even want to get out of bed and take my finals because I was so hurt. But I did.
Eventually he called and asked if I could bring his things. I packed up all his clothes and drove over there. When I got there he acted all cocky but then said we need to talk. That led to him coming home and apologizing.
Now a week later I made up a lie because something didn’t feel right. I told him I made an appointment, which I did, because I had some female issues that weren’t normal. Well, I had the appointment and made them check me for STD’s. I had no symptoms but something told me to do it. When I got home I told him that they felt like it could be something and if it comes back positive he was going down so if there was anything he needed to tell me he’d better do it now. He lied for the first five minutes and then finally said he received oral from some girl off the Internet the weekend he left.
Now I was officially done, so I thought. This led to me bashing him with words every day for what he did. The only reason he confessed is because he and only he had some burning going on and thought he had something but wasn’t even man enough to tell me. The same woman who had several surgeries to have another baby and already suffered from pcos and endometriosis and never was able to conceive.
We ended up in counseling for the first time and even counseling was rough because he started to get angry and didn’t want to really own what he did and started talking like maybe he didn’t want me anymore after begging me once again not to leave. Smh. While in counseling I found an sd card hidden on top of a bookshelf and as always over 300 naked photos of women. And all had folders and names. He claimed he forgot it was there. I know he didn’t. We got through that. And for the most part, things seemed to run smoothly. It isn’t like we didn’t enjoy each other, because we did.
We started dating, going bowling, going to movies, and talking which led him to be honest about those nights he wasn’t at the gym. Apparently he was meeting up with a woman at the lake just five more minutes from the gym. I almost went there but always went back home since he had the car and I was always on foot. Because we were in counseling and he told me this on his own, I tried to move forward. Well now here I sit…
My husband has been in Korea for almost exactly a year now. Every month he has been drinking and has spent up all the money. He stopped being intimate with me via video chat about the 4th month. He always had excuses for it. He had a good cell phone plan and we could talk whenever but he would rather go out every weekend. Now at first he didn’t tell me he was going out. He just went M.I.A. to avoid me. No matter how many times I called he wasn’t going to answer. 500 dollars at a time he was withdrawing from the A.T.M. I’m like, what are you doing???
Well, more months went by and it was always the same ol, same ol until I was so tired I said I was done. He said it is what it is and for a week he didn’t talk to me. Eventually he contacted me begging again, saying that he’s depressed there, he’s tired of being there, he misses us… and going out, and alcohol makes him happy. He swears he hasn’t cheated. I know you guys probably are saying …really? Come on don’t be stupid. But i guess I wanted to believe it so bad because I wanted him. I loved him.
I was admitted into the hospital after getting real sick and passing out where I busted my head on the sink. At this time we weren’t talking because once again he got money from me and then went M.I.A. after we got paid. He ended up contacting me, found out I had been in the hospital for four days, my bp was so low and I was so sick the doctors started to really get worried. But by the grace of God I was okay. However, I found out I had Chrons disease. We talked and we were okay.
A few days later as we were video chatting on the computer. I said let me see your messages. Hold your phone up to the camera. Of course he stalled and was not doing what I asked and said he is trying to get to the messages smh so since I knew he deleted stuff I asked to see his gallery since I know he loves pictures. Well, of course he became defensive saying that’s not what I originally asked to see and of course didn’t show me. I hung up in tears and for a week we didn’t talk. He came back begging and begging hard this time saying it was inappropriate joke pictures that people posted that he didn’t want me to see. Now I’m no idiot. I know that’s a lie, but what can I do? I couldn’t prove it so I moved forward.
He started running out of money each month and every time he did of course he was nice to me. I’d wire him money, let him use my personal bank card via the internet to order food. But as soon as we’d get paid he’d go M.I.A. again. I know this story is already long but to sum this up.
This is our last month before he returns. He did the same thing again and disappeared. Spent hundreds of dollars in bars and clubs, went to Seoul, all of this right before he serves his extra duty for two weeks for an article 15. Now I’m mad sending him photos of the bank statements asking him why, telling him I’m done… and his only response was he’s damaged goods and he’s sorry; hopefully he’ll be a better man for a real woman like me one day. I’m like, what? So he’s not even going to fight for me? We were just talking about how excited we were about seeing each other and now this?
We didn’t talk for 9 days and he wrote me on our anniversary saying that it was bittersweet and how it’s sad we won’t make it to 5. Of course I responded upset angry. He’s telling me that we’re just two different people who want the same thing but with two different lifestyles. It’s sad but it’s the truth. When I’m away from you I like to go out, relax, chill not for women, and you don’t like that. He says he feels he has done too much damage to fix and isn’t man enough to fix my broken heart. He goes on to say he still wants this marriage but he has issues he needs to fix first. And it’s time to let this go.
I am beyond heartbroken asking God what did I do; what didn’t I do? Weeks before I get to touch my husband he ends it? My son thinks he’s coming home and he isn’t. I don’t know what to do or think. I prayed that if there were things done that God has seen and doesn’t want me to deal with that he took him away from me. But there’s a part of me so hurt that still wants him.
I have not contacted him since that conversation and neither has he. And I couldn’t call if I wanted because apparently that same weekend that caused all of this, he lost his phone too. I keep asking God why he doesn’t want me after all I’ve done; hes so cold now. His career is going down the drain, he’s always had some ptsd issues, and now he’s seeking help with his depression. But I still can’t understand why he wouldn’t even want to see me after all this time… and it was bad enough he never even came home for a midtour.
I know all of this is long and I’m sorry but I have no one to really talk to. I’m praying God uses someone as a vessel to speak to me his truth and help me to find strength and understanding. Please don’t read this in judgement. Please just pray for me and if anyone knows what I feel or feels God speaks to them for me, please help me.
April, You have a husband who is prone to cheating. He is intrigued with seeing and being with multiple women –physically, emotionally, and virtually. Unfortunately, he finds ways in today’s world to act upon all of these temptations. He just doesn’t have a monogamous mindset. That’s just the way it appears to be. If you eventually reconcile with him, you have to realize this. He won’t be trustworthy. Until he absolutely “gets it” …is totally repentant and is upfront with all his activities, not allowing himself to keep secrets from you, you won’t be able to trust him.
He also does not seem to “get it” as far as how deeply this hurts you. He is able to compartmentalize this in his mind and thinks you should too. Most women, especially wives, aren’t this way. Do I think he loves you? Yes… I believe to the degree that he can love a woman, I think he does. But he just doesn’t seem to be able to stay faithful –part of it is because he doesn’t feel that he has to. He doesn’t understand the sting of it all, and doesn’t seem to care. He needs help if he is ever going to be a good partner to anyone. I’m not sure he will get the help he needs.
But one thing for sure, you should NOT support his bad spending habits. He is a manipulator. He wants what he wants when he wants it and is not above doing what it takes to get it. IF you get back together, you will have to be stronger about handing over all the money. He will blow it away on that, which hurts your marriage. Please don’t be naive about this.
I DO understand your connection with him, enjoying his company, and the good times you CAN have when he’s plugged into your relationship. I’m sure he can be charming. But you need to be more street smart. First off, time will only tell when he WILL pass an STD onto you. His irresponsible behavior lends itself to him contracting one, and passing it onto someone else. And who knows when it will be a fatal one? If one isn’t careful, the odds are that it will happen… just like playing Russian Roulette, except with diseases, instead of bullets. You may have to regularly be tested for diseases. And when you don’t give him extra money, know that he will be very persuasive… and possibly mean-spirited. He’s obviously used to getting what he wants, and who knows how he will act when he can’t get it?
I LOVE for marriages to work out. And I LOVE those who are in the military. I have great respect for both. But a marriage license is not a license to do what we want despite the vows we made. And going into an honorable profession does not make us act honorable all the time. Until your husband REALLY gets this (not just a temporary promise), you will have problems. I’m sorry to say this to you. I truly hope things will work out for you. You sound like a good-hearted person. So does your husband… but that doesn’t mean that he knows how to be a good husband and will remain faithful. I hope he will be, but it’s a matter of what he does with the choices that are presented to him every day. I pray the best for you, April… that you will receive wisdom to know what to do, and hope that you will do it.
Thank you Cindy for responding to my post. Everything you said is what I have felt. The heartbreak I feel almost feels so unbearable to withstand. I just feel like I’ve waited this whole year and now weeks before I get to see him, its over. I don’t know if he’s done something so terrible it can’t be undone or he just wants to be single now.
Knowing his patterns, he always runs when he has done something. It’s like he’s instantly filled with guilt and then feels bad. However, he’ll never be honest with me, even if he’s caught he has a story. I feel some peace since I’ve been praying and at first I was mad at God because I couldn’t understand why I was being punished by not having my husband come back to me. But then I remembered I prayed for God’s will to be done in my life and not mine. If my husband was overseas committing adultery or has an STD and isn’t going to be the man he wants for me and my son, for him to take him away from me.
I don’t know if that is what he’s doing but I feel like he is. I wish I could get the truth and answers but I’m praying for the strength, courage and wisdom to move forward even if I never get to know what he’s done.
All my life I wanted to be a wife, I love commitment I love family and unity and being an army brat I knew a military lifestyle was what I wanted. Now I have no idea whats best for me so I have given it to God.
April, does this voice that tells you to search his pockets, tell you what to do in your situation? Your health is being attacked. Your soul is in turmoil. Your hubby is letting bitterness and demons attack your soul. You have to grab Christ. Get healed.
Hi all, I need some encouragement from all of you out there. I have 2 sons and am currently 7 months pregnant with a baby girl. My husband cheated on me and confessed just days after I found out that I was pregnant (it was unplanned). Instead of saying sorry and felt guilty, he wanted a divorce straight away and started blaming me for all the reasons he could use it.
Shamefully, he’s a pastor’s son. We met at church and have been in the ministry together for more than 15 years. Worsely, he took some money, which belongs to my parents and used it for the affair. I’m talking big money… not just 10-20K. He hasn’t been responsible. My kids and I haven’t been receiving a cent. I’ve been working full time to support us. He has been moving out to live with the other woman (non-believer) for 4 months now and it seems to get worse. He has refused to listen to anybody including his parents, hasn’t been going to church and has been rejecting spiritual advice from anyone.
All his family and my family supported me and prayed for us, even though he refused to go to counselling, and told me a few times that he has filed for divorced and will receive the paperwork soon. Not a single word of “sorry” or any sort of explanation came out of his mouth other than blaming me, talking rude and hurtful words such as “I didn’t wanna marry you at first”, or “I’ve chosen the wrong woman in my life; now I have found my soulmate.” He even told my older son to call her his new mommy. He has been wanting to take the kids to spend time with them but I refuse to take the kids without my presence. We were not fighing before she came along, and all of a sudden he has changed to a completely different person. I know I’m not a perfect wife, but I’m willing to change for the better, to work through differences, holding on to my commitments instead of leaving all behind and run away. He is mad at me now and has not contacted me or the kids since.
I still believe in restoration, and that God will help us get through this. Even though my husband has hurt me like I never would’ve imagined, I pray to release forgiveness to both of them every single day. Everyday seems like a battle for me, but I keep looking up and set my eyes in Jesus who created me. I believe God hates divorce and loves family, especially the family that He Himself built.
Please pray for our restoration, my kids and baby in my tummy. 2 months to go and I’m still not sure whether he’ll turn up to see the baby when she’s due. He never took me to see the doctor, never prayed for her and forced me to do abortion back then. Please help me pray so there will be no spirit of rejection in her, and my boys will not be mentally/psychologically disturbed because of this. Thank you all for your support and and prayer. Jesus bless and loves us all. Amen.
Well here’s my story of sin!!
Hi, I like what I’m reading here, it’s very helpful. My situation is I am a born again child of God, I am in a relationship with a born again child of God; it’s been five years now since I’ve received Christ. I am 25yrs of age, I am a prayerful Christian and for a long time I’ve walked in obedience to God’s word including abstaining from pre-marital sex.
However, since I met this guy I am with now and my Father passed away recently, I have kind of lost sight of things and I’ve fallen into having sex with him before marriage, and my prayer life has dropped so much. I am a person who likes to pursue holiness and encourage others to walk in holiness.
Now the worst thing to my sexual sin falling is that it went to an extent where I had sex once with a married man outside my relationship with my current boyfriend, I had never imagined I would do such a thing hence I teach a lot to other singles in my church never to have sexual relations outside marriage and not to befriend married opposite sex people.
I myself have never never kept close opposite sex friendship let alone a married man, but for some reason I allowed myself to be friends with this one married guy and be in an alone space with him for a long time and therefore fell into the temptation, I feel so disgusted at myself for all this sexual sinning, first with my boyfriend and 2nd with this one time sex with a married man. I feel I have gone against all that I believe in and teach, and sometimes I get angry that if I had not allowed myself to have sex with my current boyfriend none of these pre-marital sex doors would be open.
And though I have stopped the friendship with this married man and told my boyfriend I want us to keep away from sex until we marry, It’s such a heavy thing to get over. Worse of all though is I have prayed to God for forgiveness and read scriptures that encourage my spirit, I still feel I am stuck in a rut. I want to be the born again Christian that had intimacy with God and walked in on obedience to his word like I used to be.
My problem is I’m scared to confess to my boyfriend about what happened as we have such great plans, and I love him so much I have made up my mind about spending my life with him, I’m afraid I might lose him or he will not trust me and our relationship will never be the same again. I am not a person to cheat and everyday I live in guilt and regret.
He speaks so well of me, he praises me so much and he looks up to me, because he says he has never been with someone who is careful to obey the Lord and someone who is always tuned into the spirit; he always says I am his Proverbs 31 woman. But now I feel I don’t deserve all that because I have messed up, broken God’s heart, my heart and his heart will be broken too when he finds out. I know the Bible teaches me God’s grace is sufficient and I’ve experienced that, but this is just too much of a disgrace.
My other concern is, my boyfriend never prays with me when we are together or share a word with me or fast with me though I always used to suggest it. It confuses me because we have such great plans to marry so if we don’t do these things now how are we gonna do them together in marriage? What confuses me is that in his church he preaches, leads prayer mondays, and he always updates about God, encourages people to pray and share but he can’t seem to do that with me.
Sometimes when he preaches I just stare in amazent because that is not how I know him when we are together. All he does is try to tempt me into having sex. At first I thought maybe he is shy to share the word and pray with me but we’ve been together for a year now so I don’t know anymore. I believe as born again Christians in a relationship we should help each other grow spiritually. The Bible encourages us to seek godly counsel; please advise, many thanks
I found out four days ago that my wife has been cheating on me. I learned of this by finding a string of emails that she had sent a man. She likes to jog and while I was at work she jogged down to the park where the individual sat waiting in his car. I’m devastated. We’ve been married for 15 years and have 6 children all under the age of 14. I’m very upset, angry, and numb. I don’t want to hurt our children but my wife doesn’t seem to get it. She told me that she can’t promise it won’t happen again. Just seems very arrogant about it and that’s what bothers me. If it wasn’t for the kids I would be out of here.
Just needing some help here. My folks and many close friends would tell me just to leave and are not very compassionate and would be quick to judge my wife. I don’t want that.
Wesley, I am sorry your start to 2015 is rocky. It sounds like your spouse is possibly glad she was caught. You deserve to ask questions: why, what happened, when/where, how long were you keeping this, had I not found out would you have told me, etc.
Only you can make the choice to stay. Pray. Don’t be a doormat if she can’t commit to you though. Good luck
Please pray for my husband who cheated on me; pray for him to repent(change).
My husband doesn’t have time for me. I’m always ignored by him. I was shattered then I found someone who understands me and my feelings. I’m sort of in love with him but have not committed adultery. Am I a sinner? I’m just mentally involved. Somebody please help me by telling me.
Kruita, I believe you already know the answer to this question. You already know that when you make your wedding vows, even when things aren’t going as you wish they would, it doesn’t give you permission to invest your time in fantasizing, or entertaining someone else, even if you never have sex together. We have a whole topic titled, “Emotional Infidelity” provided on this issue that you can read through at http://host.agencysrvr.com/~marriage/category/emotional-infidelity/. Even if you just read through the “Quotes” part of this topic (which I recommend) you will see how harmful this type of relationship can become.
Please don’t allow yourself to believe the lie that because you are lonely and you hurt so badly, solutions to cheat and do that which you should not, are acceptable. They are not. If you have sex with this guy, you will only be complicating your life all the more. You may not realize it now, but it’s true. We hear from hundreds of people each year that wish they would have stopped themselves from continuing to go in the direction you’re headed. Please stop investing energy into this “love” that you are watering and growing. It’s wrong and it will lead you down a horrible dead end street to more heartache than any type of pleasure it could ever bring. Plus, it breaks the heart of God when we allow ourselves to be unfaithful. That in itself is reason to stop.
Do what you can to try to get your husband to spend more time with you. Ask God for wisdom. Even snatchets of time can be better than nothing. If that doesn’t happen to the degree that you need, then look for healthy ways you can spend your time. Those ways are out there… you just have to look and want it bad enough. I hope and pray you will. This is a wake-up call right now. I believe God is nudging you, telling you so. Please don’t ignore this. I hope you heed it and pray that God will help you to break free as you lean into Him and His ways. I also pray for you AND your husband.
I’m a Christian that recently reaffirmed my faith in Jesus and was recently baptized. My question is: I’m the one who has committed adultery. I’m currently separated from my husband and I have repented and asked for God’s forgiveness, since I did that, and it’s under the blood of Jesus. Do I still need to confess it to my husband?
Also, I’ve been talking to my ex husband and have seen him twice. We aren’t in a relationship other than friendship and I believe that’s all it will ever be. Is this something that God won’t forgive?
Question… When does God stop punishing the cheater??? I was the cheater and it definitely seems like the punishment WAY outweighs the crime.
While deployed with the military I had a two week fling with a lady I had no interest in. I never intended it to happen and was actually just a few weeks away from the deployment being over. But it happened and I didn’t stop it. Then when we decided to separate, something snapped in my brain and I pretty much acted like a 40 year old teenager, dating, partying, living it up… for reasons I can’t even figure out myself.
Since then I’ve lost my wife, two kids, house, job, and boat, among other things. I have now been unemployed and figuratively homeless for over 6 months. My unemployment just ran out and I’m about to lose my vehicle and the remainder of my savings.
If this is proof that God is just, then I can only imagine how bad it would be had I killed someone. I’m just wondering when it ends??? When will God finally forgive me, or will he? I REALLY can’t take much more of this. I think I might run away.
Draw closer and closer to God and be grateful in your praise and devotion to Him. We are reminded to thank Him in good or bad. Romans 8:28 is an open-ended, promise from God that He will turn it all around for good! “All things work together for good for those…”
Four days ago I was out and had drank way to much and ended up doing something with another man. Yesterday I told my husband it was not my intentions to do anything at all; my judgment was impaired and don’t remember anything besides what I had done. He say we can get through this and still loves me and I love him deeply. Can we get through this together?
I never thought I’d be in this situation but I need advise and encouragement. I committed adultery and I don’t want to make excuses for it. My husband was/is the first person I had sex with at 29 years old when I got married. I’ve been having serious issues in my marriage. From lack of sex to communications issues. Emotional abuse and not being able to agree on anything. I’ve been married for 5 years now with two kids. I had to come to the US with my kids from Africa just because we can’t agree on anything as husband and wife.
When I got to the US, it was difficult settling. I was stranded one day on road trying to get to my apartment; I prayed to God for help and this man showed up and took me to my apartment. He has been there for me and my kids for the eight months I’ve been here. I tried to communicate with my husband several times after I came to the US but he never responds, keeps sending hurtful words to me and never calls to ask how the kids are doing or asked how we were surviving.
I cried and got frustrated most times. In these trying times, this friend was there, giving all the support, financially and emotionally. We got attracted to each other but we both understood that we couldn’t have a serious committment because even though I was separated from my husband, I was still married. We talked about it and shared scriptures on it.
Well, we finally slept together. We both cried that day and asked God for forgiveness. The first thing I did was to relocate to another state because we had become so close that it might happen again. I know God has forgiven me but I still feel terrible. I’m prepared to tell my spouse if need be but we don’t communicate. My spouse hasn’t been been able to let go of little things in the past, so I doubt if he can forget this, besides he doesn’t even keep in touch.
I became so close to my man friend because I was lonely having to attend school with two kids and no money. That doesn’t excuse adultery though. This other man is divorced and looking for someone to marry and he says he was praying to God for a woman when he met me. He strongly believes God sent me to him. I’ve thought of asking my husband for a divorce many times but I lack the courage to, plus the fact there are kids in between and I’m the one who ran with the kids because I was maltreated. This other man has been a friend in every way but I can’t commit to him and I can’t reach out to my spouse to even work out things. I’ve tried getting the pastor in my church where I worship in the US to talk to my spouse but we couldn’t work out things.
This man friend is so good with my kids and genuinely cares for us. He still calls to check on us and is even thinking of relocating just to be with us. Even if I don’t know where I stand in my marriage and I don’t know where to even start from trying to make things work, I don’t want to give up just yet. My man friend is so patient. He says take all the time you want, I’ll wait for you and if you decide to go back to your marriage, I’ll understand. I don’t know what to do.
Hi, my name is Latoya, I’m married with one daughter. I’ve been with my husband for the last 3 years but married for only 2. My husband and I both attend church and are very committed to ministry and serving Christ etc. He is a very hard working man, dedicated to me and my daughter and completely goes out of his way for anyone and everyone especially us.
About a year ago I had a guy friend I knew from high school (I’m 30 now) add me on Facebook. I hadn’t seen this guy for years, since school really. We never spoke much at school only here and there, but over all not much. I did have a major crush on him in junior high before we went to senior high school I was not really attractive back then very tom boyish. I kinda think he knew I liked him but was never really interested.
Anyway, when this guy added me on Facebook years later, I’ve changed now and looking very slim and attractive. He private messaged me saying hi how are you, it’s been ages since I saw you last, looks like you have a man in your life etc. When he sent me this message I thought to myself wow? You’ve never really spoken to me in the past but now you’re reaching out to me out of the blue? And in private message as well, that’s kinda odd. At the same time I did get butterflies. Deep inside I knew that if I had messaged back it could possibly start something. I didn’t want to jeopardise my marriage so I never responded to his message.
A week or so later he put up a random picture of himself on f.b and to my surprise he looked really really hot and attractive. I really don’t know where this idea came from but for some reason when I first saw this picture I kinda got that sense like was he trying to get my attention Or?? Anyway this is where I got more butterflies I don’t know why but it made me feel tingly inside… eventually I got over it. I never said anything and moved on happily.
Now, the last few weeks out of nowhere I’ve been thinking about this guy a lot. I’ve tried resisting the thoughts and temptations in my head but it’s been hard. I don’t know why I’m suddenly getting these butterflies for this guy, I knew from school? I really love Jesus so much. I’ve even admitted to God of having desires for this guy; he just keeps popping up into my head. I’ve actually had desires to even want him physically. I’ve allowed this lust to enter my mind and heart. I feel like an adulterer; I feel stuck. I keep away from this guys Facebook page or looking at any of his photos because I don’t want to burn with more feelings. I won’t write to him because I’m shy plus it’s all in my head and it’s just a fantasy.
I love the Lord so much. I want to do nothing but the right thing by him, and by my husband and my daughter. I can’t seem to shake this guy off my mind. Although it’s been a few weeks he’s always stuck to the back of my mind since the last year etc. He’s also engaged now.
I’m not sure what to do. I keep telling myself it’s a passing phase and that I’ll move forward from this, but for now just stay away from him, stay away from his Facebook page and stay away from trying to private message him. That’s all I can do till I overcome this desire. I don’t know how to break this to my husband. I don’t even want to say anything to him or how he would react if I told him what I am going through.
I don’t want to divorce my husband; I love him dearly. He is the best man I’ve ever been with. His family is beautiful, our friends all love us together. I pray to God that the butterflies or whatever it is that I was/am feeling towards this guy I knew from school, I can have toward my husband instead because that is all I want. I made a vow to my hubby when I married him and I want to stick by it till our dying age. Any advice will be great.
Hi LaToya, You sound like a lovely gal, who is caught in the snare of a fantasy world. My heart goes out to you. What you are going through is not unusual. Many, many of us go through this in one way or another at some point in our lives. The enemy of our faith keeps looking for ways to get us to fall. You are doing well to keep resisting. Don’t allow yourself to entertain this at all. When thoughts of this guy come into your mind, throw them out like junk mail. Don’t even allow them to rest anywhere and take up residency. Find something else to put into your mind. Perhaps have some scripture cards to whip out to go over and start memorizing. Eventually, the thoughts will dissipate. This sure helped me, when I used scriptures.
I recommend you copy your comment and paste into the comment box under the article, “Getting Unhooked From an Emotional Affair.” You can find it at: http://host.agencysrvr.com/~marriage/getting-unhooked-from-an-emotional-affair/. That’s another thing you can do… read through as many of the comments under that article, as you can during times of temptation. There is a GREAT community of others who are encouraging one another –helping each other stay away from emotional affair temptations. Someone may even write you back and encourage you. They often do that.
I’m reminded of something one marriage expert (Diane Sollee) once said, “What we really need is a time machine so that people entering into an affair could flash forward and see themselves, their kids, and their lives at the other end of their lust.” I know for me, I’m SO glad I fought the temptations I had that faced me. I have NO regrets nagging at me, and I’m SO much happier than I’m sure I ever could have been, if I had given in, I’m sure. I’ve seen other lives that are so devastated –ones that would give ANYTHING to have never given into their curiosities and the temptations that grabbed at their very souls.
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to fight this battle with everything you have in you –that God can give you… to “flee” as we’re told to do in the Bible. Please keep fighting the fight. This is just as much of a fight for you, as it is for someone who is prone to alcoholism, who wants a drink, or a drug addict, who is trying to stay clean, and yet the temptation to grab onto what they shouldn’t, is ever before them. It takes tenacity, prayer, and perseverance. Keep persevering, my friend. Honor your husband, your daughter (who would be devastated if her home broke up over this), and your God. Please don’t break their hearts, nor yours.
Thank you so much Cindy. I will have a look at the above website as attached. I truly believe in what you said about having scriptures handy, to lean into when times are rough, that just reminds me that the word is our source and our strength. I will be sure to put those tips into practice. Thank you for your advice and your encouragement. Many blessings to you from Australia :-) X
My advice is to research about how this is the Devil tempting you away from God and your marriage. You know it in your gut and is how the enemy works at manipulating and tempting us; anything to get us off track and on his evil side. The devil is real and REALLY at work daily; don’t make light of it choose to get help to FIGHT back for yourself and your spouses and family’s souls and lives. Walking with our Lord.