Need Advice Regarding Wife's Infidelities

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TimmyHalverson

Guest
#1
Greetings,

I'm a Christian father and husband. My wife and I are both involved in the community and church. I've recently discovered secrets about my wife's infidelities and I'm so confused. Not sure if this is the right place to discuss or if someone can point me in the right direction it would be very appreciated.

We have been married for 15 years with 3 children and I learned this started after we were married. She has asked for forgiveness but admitted she doesn't know if she can stop. She said she started about 5 years ago and has tried to stop but has incredibly strong urges to do this. She has said there are no emotions involved and she is addicted to the thrill of it only. We are both active in the community, schools, and church. Destroying my family with divorce is not an option to me. I've asked her to have a sit down and discuss this with our pastor or a counselor but she is too embarrassed. She has even suggested I just turn a blind eye to all this. I feel like this is like a drug addiction for her. I don't know what to do at this point
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Ugly

Guest
#2
Not a lot of advice to give. You've already proven that your pride is so great that you refuse to take any real steps to deal with this issue, by talking about your standing in the community. People who want their marriages fixed, or want to stop being doormats, have to put their pride aside and do what must be done.
Theres nothing right or spiritual about your decision to hide this so that you can keep up your public image. She cheats, you're prideful. Perhaps you should remove the plank in your own eye first and wonder why your public image is worth more than your desire to fix or deal with your marriage in any Meaningful way.
 
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WeightedWords

Guest
#3
First of all, let me say that I'm sorry you are having to deal with the very heartbreaking side of humanity. You are on the right track, though, since you aren't just smacking the "divorce" button in an attempt to bail from the stress of emotion. Right now you may be feeling lots of emotions such as rejection, anger, hurt, shock, disappointment, confusion, determination, and even apathy. Seeking counsel and talking about it instead of thinking "I'm too ashamed and God is powerful enough to help me in this" is best. While God is powerful enough to heal both you and your wife in the years to come, God also made allowance for a man to seek spiritual guidance from his pastor and elders in the church. Your wife, while confessing, is not ready to confess to the elders in her church simply because she isn't ready to give up the sin yet. She's not ready to answer for her sin either and is relying on you to baby her out of love. That speaks highly of you, btw, that she addressed the issue with you. It was in some ways a selfish move on her part, because she is trying to ease her guilty conscience. Never stop praying that God will turn her heart and mind to godliness and determination so she can let go of the sin completely.
Your job as the husband is really really REALLY hard, because you are supposed to help lead her in the family decisions. Part of this will have to be in the form of instruction. She can't continue in positions of ministry while she's hiding such sin, so the best thing to do is to seek the guidance from the leadership of the church. She can't just say "I'm too embarrassed to talk about it." Obviously SOMEBODY knows about her infidelity and she didn't seem to be too embarrassed then. Why should the loving (I'm assuming your church leadership is loving and not a bunch of fire-breathing dragons) church leadership she trusts to teach her family suddenly be inadequate to deal with the discussion about her actions as a parent in your family? At some point she's going to have to be told not to drag her heals. She's going to have to sink or swim and admit that she needs help.
In the mean time you, the man, may feel justified to lash out- be it in anger or through similar action. Keeping in consistent contact with the church leadership and strong Christian friends will also help with your accountability. Whether you and your wife continue to be intimate at this time is up to you... and the only thing the Bible really says about it is that the two of you can abstain from sex for the purpose of prayer and fasting for a SPECIFIC length of time. Basically, the Bible instructs that you be husband and wife unless you are abstaining to show God honor. God would lead you in that regard. If, however, you decide you want to pursue your wife and woo her back, Please don't consider it grovelling. Every woman deserves to be dated by her husband all through marriage, so get creative. :) You can be totally in love with your wife and go nuts with creativity while still remaining within the boundaries God has delineated (and He doesn't give many boundaries for marriage).
Your wife, on the other hand, needs to be held accountable. She's not a child and you can't lock her in her room in an attempt to starve her vices, so addressing her obvious free time and lack of accountability is going to be a hard nut to crack. She's either going to repent and acquiesce, or she's going to buck under the pressure of consequences she will invariably have to be saddled with. All I can say is that I grieve a little for your both, because it is one of the most regrettable situations.
The Bible instructs that we admonish a brother to repent. It is very specific regarding the methods to be used in an attempt to help a brother take the right steps. It is also very clear what to do if a spouse asks to leave. Keep reading and praying and talking... and let yourself grieve.
 
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tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,400
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Tennessee
#4
Seriously, based on her complete disregard of her marriage vows I would have given her walking papers a long time ago. Your family is already destroyed. Sorry this had to happen to you. Welcome to CC.
 
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WeightedWords

Guest
#5
Seriously, based on her complete disregard of her marriage vows I would have given her walking papers a long time ago. Your family is already destroyed. Sorry this had to happen to you. Welcome to CC.
Read Hosea 1 and the entire rest of the Bible where God, after entering into a marriage covenant with believers, didn't just dump them like so much refuse. Not everyone can be Hosea... but there's a better approach than just advising a brother to ditch his wife for her weakness. We don't know both sides of the story.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,476
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#6
She has even suggested I just turn a blind eye to all this.
That's the point of unrepentant no return... She wants you to allow her to engage in willful sin.. :( Sorry to have to say this but i do not think your marriage is recoverable while she has this totally unrepentant attitude...
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,400
16,342
113
69
Tennessee
#7
Read Hosea 1 and the entire rest of the Bible where God, after entering into a marriage covenant with believers, didn't just dump them like so much refuse. Not everyone can be Hosea... but there's a better approach than just advising a brother to ditch his wife for her weakness. We don't know both sides of the story.
My advice is based on my own experience during my first marriage. I knew my ex-wife was cheating on me but she would never admit it. I eventually turned a blind eye to her activities for my daughter's sake so the family could remain intact. During my entire 6 1/2 year marriage I remained completely faithful and worked hard to provide. In the end she said that she didn't love me and filed for divorce.

The worse thing that you can do in a marriage is to cheat on your spouse. If you love your spouse you wouldn't even think about cheating let alone do it. Once the trust is broken it can never be restored.

Based on the OP the wife wants to continue to give in to these so-called urges and wants her husband to just simply turn a blind eye to what is going on.

There is no love in this marriage for her husband. The marriage is a sham. My advice stands.
 
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CharlieGrown

Guest
#8
All things are possible for those who believe in Christ Jesus.
 
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TimmyHalverson

Guest
#10
I guess I am looking at it as if she was an alcoholic... When I just give up so easily
 
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CharlieGrown

Guest
#11
I guess I am looking at it as if she was an alcoholic... When I just give up so easily
and just like alcoholism, we are not equipped in our own power to overcome it. That's where we must fall on the power of His grace to compensate for our weakness. I'm praying for you.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,782
2,951
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#12
Bipolar Disorder comes to mind. One of the symptoms is hyper sexuality. This really is uncontrolled. But medication can help. Please talk with your doctor about your wife. Because if this is the cause, you might be able to save your marriage.

Personally, I cannot imagine preserving a marriage where I had been cheated on. I'm just giving you a different direction to go in. You certainly are a stronger person than I am.
 

Dan58

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2013
1,991
338
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#13
She has asked for forgiveness but admitted she doesn't know if she can stop. Destroying my family with divorce is not an option to me. She has even suggested I just turn a blind eye to all this. I feel like this is like a drug addiction for her. I don't know what to do at this point


You married a nymphomaniac, who won't see a counselor and wants you to turn a blind eye? You know what to do, your just unwilling or afraid to do it. If divorce is out of the question, then all you can do is learn to be content being married to a whore. Consider that divorce might be a far better resolution than enabling your wife's perversion. And how will it affect your kids when they find out their mothers a slut? For the dignity of your children (and yourself), I think you have an obligation to separate yourself from her, she's not a wife or a good mother, she's a tramp, and she had the gall to ask you to accept it? What a sweetheart !!
 

IDEAtor

Senior Member
Aug 15, 2012
827
19
18
#14
Greetings,

I'm a Christian father and husband. My wife and I are both involved in the community and church. I've recently discovered secrets about my wife's infidelities and I'm so confused. Not sure if this is the right place to discuss or if someone can point me in the right direction it would be very appreciated.
I don't know what to do at this point
Timmy, you are sharing the core of your spirit, to seek restoration like this. You are honest about the pain and the hurtful conversation between you and a loved one. May God defend you during this difficult, unspeakable time.

It is early morning here. I don't have a reply, but I am going to say a prayer for you and your family.

Dear God, it is one thing to battle temptation. It is something else to just plan on giving into it.
I praise you now, because I see the conviction this man has for his family. He confesses he is not wanting to divorce.
But she confesses her chances of continued infidelity. Lord, this is messy. This not what was the plan. But it is the reality that they face. Now what? God, I pray that you will bring a godly woman into her life as a voice of Reason. And I pray that you help Tim find godly counsel. But more than anything, I pray he presses into you like never before-- not with rage, but with the pain, confusion, and desire to see Your Will accomplished. Lord, I pray for forgiving hearts, but I pray for spiritual prudence. I pray that the father will be wise in listening, but also that he avoids listening to lies from others. I also ask that you protect the children. Strengthen them with faith and hope in Christ Jesus, rather than the promises of dad or mom. And turn these painful, unneeded days into timeless testimony of your Faithfulness. God, my prayer is nothing compared to Your power, yet I'm asking, in Jesus' name, amen.
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#15
you are both 'worldly-sick', she in her selfish state and you, trying to convince yourself that
you are a 'victim' after 'all' these years...

seek Jesus first and ask Him to release you and your wife from your addictions, and then
pray to find a Christian Counselor...
 
Oct 3, 2016
304
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#16
Greetings,

I'm a Christian father and husband. My wife and I are both involved in the community and church. I've recently discovered secrets about my wife's infidelities and I'm so confused. Not sure if this is the right place to discuss or if someone can point me in the right direction it would be very appreciated.

We have been married for 15 years with 3 children and I learned this started after we were married. She has asked for forgiveness but admitted she doesn't know if she can stop. She said she started about 5 years ago and has tried to stop but has incredibly strong urges to do this. She has said there are no emotions involved and she is addicted to the thrill of it only. We are both active in the community, schools, and church. Destroying my family with divorce is not an option to me. I've asked her to have a sit down and discuss this with our pastor or a counselor but she is too embarrassed. She has even suggested I just turn a blind eye to all this. I feel like this is like a drug addiction for her. I don't know what to do at this point
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Quit your lies troll.

Yes really.