First, thank you, everyone, who responded to the question in last week’s post sent in by one of my readers. Hopefully, it shed some light on the subject matter for the individual. Let’s move to our next question now. Many hurtful things in life can leave pain and deep hidden scars in our hearts. One thing is infidelity in a relationship or marriage. For those individuals touched by this behavior, whether female or male, the result is the same-devastation, mistrust, question after question-why. Life presents enough challenges, which sometimes can turn our lives upside down. No one desires infidelity to complicate life further. Having a loving personal support system, whether in a committed relationship or a covenant marriage, can help lessen some of the pain from issues of life.
So, what happens when the commitment and trust break? How do you cope and survive? How do you honor the promise that you made to the relationship? How do you endure and move forward? How do you advance toward changing a grieving heart into a forgiving heart? Do you reach out to someone for counseling and support? How do you let the individual know that you know about the infidelity? What is the scriptural viewpoint in this matter?
I look forward to hearing what your thoughts or viewpoint is on this tough situation. If you wish to share a personal testimony of how you may have dealt with infidelity in a relationship or marriage, we respect your sharing with no judgments. Someone may benefit from learning how you coped, made it to the other side of infidelity heartache, or is in the process of making it through, or if you were unable to endure it. Everyone needs a word of encouragement from time to time.
Thank you in advance for sharing whatever thoughts you may have on this subject. And please don’t forget to send me tough relationship questions you may have. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21. I’ll be
back next week with a new post, Tough Question: “How Do You Take A Chance On Love Again After Enduring Heartache?”
Be encouraged, and God bless!
Sister Jackie
This is truly a “deep” question and requires solemn contemplation. But, I believe the answer is not a “one size fits all”. I have an aunt who experienced this half-way during her marriage of 50 years, and she told me that it took her MANY years to move forward from it. First was GREAT anger, and rightfully so because of the betrayal of the marital vow. Then MANY tears and low points along the way because of her deeply broken heart. But then after mourning the loss of her ” perfect dream marriage”, she began to sincerely pray for help and healing which brought her to forgiveness, because it was too much for her to bear and stay in it. Her marriage lasted for 50+years, for another 25 years after this happened.
For many a great one has fallen to this temptation, even “King David” a great king took it to a whole other level. Temptation is NO joke, not only in this area but in SO MANY other areas of our lives, and God knows that we can not only be tempted, but in our weakness we can also yield to the temptation, so He has warned us about it in His Word, because He knows how it can over-take us, even when we know it’s wrong. I am also reminded of Hosea and Gomer, and in our right minds, the least of us probably would not have stayed in that situation. But that story also shows how God keeps taking us back every time we dishonor Him.
But to me, bottom line, it’s all about “choice”. For we “choose” what we want to be a part of, in spite of negative aspects of most situations. From my aunt sharing her experience with me, I found a greater respect for the sanctity of marriage. For “I” learned that, through it all, it was first great mourning of the loss, then true forgiveness, prayer, patience, perseverance, and faith in God that saved her marriage.
As I said before, to me, this is truly not a “one size fits all remedy” for this VERY deep and personal situation, for all circumstances and relationships are not the same, for ALL people are not the same. BUT only GOD has the key for EVERY situation. For He alone is a burden-bearer, healer and RESTORER. So, for me, no matter what the issue, burden or trouble may be, the first thing is to seek God for the answer. For ALL of our help comes from “God alone”.
“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He SHALL direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes:…”Proverbs 3:6-7a
Thank you so much for sharing your aunt’s experience. As you said, it’s not a “one size fits all” answer, but “one” God can heal, deliver, and restore us. Such a beautiful testimony! God bless you for sharing those words, which I believe will surely have a positive effect on someone.