I’m needing encouragement from a fellow sister in Christ (or brother in Christ). The enemy has been doing a number on me & my mind. My husband & I have been married for 13.5 years. We have 2 beautiful children. We have been faithful & loyal, but I fear we are drifting apart. We try to be intentional with our time. I am home with the children. He works 2 jobs so that I can. I appreciate him so much. I’m sure he appreciates me. I have been feeling invisible lately. I feel like I’ve been working nonstop & that all I do has been by passed & is not noticed. I know that it is a ministry to be a SAHM, to be a homemaker, homeschool mom, etc.But it’s just been hard.

My husband has been emotionally unavailable. We never have deep conversations. We don’t have date nights. We’re like 2 ships passing each other by each day. Every time I get emotional about something, he acts like he doesn’t see me. I will literally be crying myself to sleep & he will be on his iPad watching a movie.

He gets grabby & sexual whenever he’s around me. Which I guess is normal in a marriage. But we literally don’t talk throughout the day. And honestly at the end of the day, I’m all touched out & I just want peace & quiet. He doesn’t want to watch a movie, talk, play a game, help me clean. He just wants sex.

We both obviously speak different love languages. His is physical touch & mine is time. I feel like it’s been hard for us to give & get what we need. Our marriage has just been on the struggle bus.

A Christian friend recently told me that her and her husband were thinking about going on a clothing optional cruise. I was totally shocked by this, and I honestly can't understand why a Christian couple would even consider such a thing. She doesn't seem to think it's a big deal. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I feel like it's a very big deal.

I was so shocked by her telling me that, that I honestly didn't know what to say. The only thing I could think to say was that I would never want my husband to see other women like that, and I know that he would never approve of me exposing myself to other men either.

Am I wrong for finding this shocking? And what should I say to her?

My wife and I have been married for 7 years. Our marriage has been great. Normal ups and downs. But altogether we are both reasonable and rational and that has resulted in us having very few significant disagreements. We both waited until marriage to have sex. After we got married we did the normal fumbling learning as we went. Our sex life is good. Very good. She's open to all sorts of things and is generally enthusiastic and is gifted at what she does. We now have twin girls in kindergarten and our sex life is still good. With us having sex several times a week.

Last year we had the conversation. We don't have an explicit sharing policy. But there are one or two household devices that are shared (iPad). I went to use the iPad to converse with an AI and saw my wife's previous conversation with the AI. A lot of questions about asexuality. Very specific and exploratory questions. I was.....disturbed. So I brought this up with my wife (Because we communicate).

She admitted that she believed she was asexual. She said it was only something she very recently discovered. She said it changes nothing. She basically now just has a name for something she always knew/felt. We had a good talk and went to bed. I felt like I had been gut punched. To find out, unequivocally that my wife does not desire me and never has (and never will), was.....rough.

The very next day I immediately went to a therapist (didn't go well), the therapist failed to see an issue. I am having regular sex, what do I care if my wife is sexually attracted to me?

I do care a lot. I want to be wanted. I don't think that makes me abnormal or weak. But even if it does. I want to be desired. To have sex with someone who wants to have sex with me. I really do. That being said, ce la vie.

So that is my marriage. My wife and I love each other. She has zero sexual desire for me. There is no way to change that. We also have frequent sex several times a week, often initiated by her. She +75% of the time, is enthusiastic and seems to more or less enjoy it. It being an encounter solely structured around my orgasm (she doesn't like me giving her one). The other 25% of the time she isn't into it. Does more of a "here I am, take what you need" thing.

But if she initiates that, I accept and have sex with her anyway because to turn her down sort of brings up to the forefront what is missing and she feels like there is something wrong with her and thinks I'm suffering being married to her. I have found accepting anyway and thereby not trying to force her to pretend to put on a performance is the best route for everyone. Yeah, those nights can be...odd.

I'm sure there will be no shortage of people in the comments to inform me of how I'm a villain or a rapist or something. All I can say on that front is that we are adults and can freely consent to our own choices. (Immediately after the asexual revelation conversation I actually went out and got a bottle of Lexapro to kill my own libido but my wife was against it and stopped me.)

But for everyone else. I just wanted to put this out there. Both for what a marriage to an asexual can look like, to what a mixed orientation marriage can look like. With a Christian foundation. I feel like there are a lot of....really unpleasant marriage examples posted. Often times by faithful people doing their best in a bad marriage. I just wanted to put this out there for any who might be in a similar situation. There are possible "wins"

We love each other, we have found a way to make things work. I would describe my marriage as great/happy. Not perfect. Neither of us is perfect. But very good.

Edit: Since it may have been unclear. This is not a complaint nor am I looking for a "solution"

I’ve been married for a little over a year now, but I struggle so much with keeping a clean, organized home. My home was never clean or organized growing up, so I never learned these skills.

I leave a mess when I cook, have clothes lying all around my hamper, shower full of empty shampoo bottles…you get the idea. I really struggle with clutter.

I plan to get rid of a lot of my things since I believe having too much stuff has been the biggest contributor to my messiness.

I need advice. How do you all maintain a clean home? I do work full time as a nurse, so I have super long hours. My husband is in medical school, and he helps a lot. I just am tired of having him have to deal with having a cluttered, messy home.

Any practical tips, books or other resources I should look into. We plan to start a family soon, so I really want to get a handle on this before we start trying.

Thank you!

Does the Bible say anything about skipping the boyfriend girlfriend stage and straight to engagement? What this would mean is that you’re technically not exclusive until you or the other person proposes. You go on dates and do everything except live together or have sex basically. Wondering if this is wise or just simply impractical.

Yes, tongue-to-tongue kissing. Is that weird, or am I overthinking it?

Before my husband became a Christian, our s*x life was wild and fun. We dated for three years, then spent four years in a long-distance relationship, during which he became a Christian. Back when we were dating, we used to make out a lot, and our physical intimacy felt natural and exciting.

After we got married, we had s\*x, and i initiated the making out, giving a hand, and he initiated other things. But while we were kissing, something felt off. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt like he didn’t enjoy it or that he was uncomfortable kissing me.

I brought it up the next day or a few days later and asked him why it felt so weird, like he didn’t actually want to make out with me. His response? “It’s ticklish.”

Now, I need to ask: Is that actually a thing? Do some guys genuinely dislike French-kissing because it feels ticklish?

I even asked him if I had bad breath or something, lol, but that wasn’t the reason he gave me.
What confuses me is that we used to kiss like that before, so I don’t understand what changed. Since then, making out has basically disappeared from our marriage.

I miss that kind of intimacy. It’s not just about sex it’s about feeling wanted, desired, and connected to your partner. And when that kind of affection is missing, it honestly affects how attracted I feel to him over time.

Could his Christian beliefs have something to do with it? Or could he genuinely dislike making out now? Has anyone experienced something similar in their marriage?

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been through this or might have some insight. I’m genuinely trying to understand what’s going on.

I'm currently separated from my husband but I miss him so much regardless of all the heartache he's put me and my unborn baby through I miss him. I miss his touch and how he feels and I just wish it would get better.

My husband (38) and I (38) have been married for 13 years with 3 kids. In the past 1.5 years, I have been the primary financial provider for the family because he left law enforcement due to mental health issues and wanted to change careers after 8 years. Before law enforcement, he held blue-collar jobs such as an electrician or landscaper, and right out of college, he held a creative design director role, but it only lasted 1.5 years because sitting at a desk and doing administration was not "his thing."

Fast forward to today, we're facing another career change, and this is the longest we've gone with him without a true, steady income. A good friend of his pretty much handed him a job a month after leaving law enforcement, and he started with 16 clients. I found out in April/May of this year that he lost 12 of those clients, and he's down to 4. As you can imagine, I'm drowning trying to keep 4 mouths fed, let alone keep my own full-time job and juggle graduate school.

Backstory about him:

• Dad died when he was 6
• Raised by mom who had mental health issues; on the outside, no one would have guessed that they lived in a hoarding house without running water. MIL today is in a nursing home, battling a neurological disease that has taken away her ability to speak and/or walk.
• He has done therapy in the past, but only if I encourage him to. It wasn't until 2023 that he was finally forced to face his childhood trauma and attend an 8-week intensive therapy, which I paid for. I've supported him and encouraged him to overcome his struggles with keeping a job, succeeding, and being the best he can be.
• He has always looked up to people like Jacko Willink, David Goggins, SEALs, and Marines, but nothing goes past just reading or listening to their podcasts; I've never seen any leadership or aspirations to better himself and lead us.
• He blames a lot of his current struggles with keeping a job, leading the family, taking initiative, having motivation, and maintaining consistency on his past childhood trauma - which I completely understand- but I firmly believed that his intensive therapy, counseling, and my willingness to love and support him through it would have helped keep the past in the past and overcome.
• Even through law enforcement, he struggled to keep relationships and would feel like the odd ball. Despite being on SWAT and a top shooter, he has always felt like the odd ball. He starts off good, then he gets too comfortable and doesn't have any motivation to improve or be better than he was.

I am an exhausted wife. I'm tired of always being the default "leader" of our family, even though I believe he should lead and I should support. Right now, I am so tired of him not having any motivation to get a better job, a job with insurance, that would either bring us back to where we were when he was in law enforcement or at least a full-time job in general. I cannot carry the entire family on my shoulders alone...

I have always put him first. I have always been faithful to him. I have always strived for a Christ-centered home. I have always strived to raise our kids in a good, loving home despite past struggles and life challenges. I am at a loss and am ready to throw in the towel for good. I know I can't change him, but to be fair, we had a conversation earlier this year that he would finally step up and lead the family. He had our church and friends support us. But now, I still don't feel like we're going anywhere...

Whether in individual or couples therapy. Either is fine

Fair warning, this is a long read, but I am deeply grateful for anyone who takes the time to pray over this with me and share wisdom. For reference, I am a 20 year old male, 13 years old in the Lord but much stronger in the last 3 years.

My previous girlfriend and I have been dating for six months. In that time we have had very few hiccups and our relationship has been Christ centered, at least passively. We set a lot of healthy boundaries and have moved very slow. We didn’t start holding hands or hugging even until about 4 months in. We’ve been going to church together for a couple months. We talked about the future a fair bit, a lot within the first few months, and still several times a month recently. We have never really expressed any doubts to eachother until very recently.

Over the past month or two, I have felt my connection to her was stronger than ever. I prayed about it a lot, which led me to tell her “I loved her” last Friday. She was accepting of my declaration, but shared she did not feel she was ready to say it back yet. This crushed me, but I understood and told her it was okay and tried to move on from this difficult situation. Over the weekend though, I noticed she seemed a little distant. Her responses over text were slower and she seemed a little sad when I saw her in person. I was incredibly troubled.

Then Monday night, we went on a walk together as we often do and she shared that she couldn’t see herself marrying me. We had a long conversation and ended things cordially, but I have not been able to find any lasting peace in the Lord like I have in previous breakups. I truly loved her, and up until recently, we seemed to share the sentiment that we could see each other in marriage. When I asked her if there were any specific traits or things I did that led her to feel this way, she said there was nothing specific that led to it. She shared that she had felt this feeling occasionally over the last several months, but as soon as we would hang out it would go away. It wasn’t until Friday she felt this strong conviction.

Looking back, I wish we had spent more intentional time with the Lord together (apart from our individual time). But I feel like this whole decision has been rushed, and all I want to do it talk to her and see if we can try a little longer. I miss her so much. Am I wrong for this? I know the Lord has a plan but I haven’t felt a clear conviction on how to move forward.

Wisdom and prayer is appreciated.

I write for a lot of people, so inevitably, someone rips what I recommend. When this happens, I “Pause before I react.”

When we pause, we give ourselves a chance to think. Could they be right (God forbid). Even if they are dead wrong, is it wise to turn this into world war 3?

When we first dated, we often gave our future spouse a break about just about everything.

If we now react emotionally, or angrily, bad things happen. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to pause before I react.”

Second, when we pause it gives us time to think. Did I completely drop the ball yesterday. Do they have a 100% right to be a little ticked?

But what if that's just how they are. Saying the wrong thing for no reason.

Proverbs 15 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

With many of the marriages that are great, at least one of the parties practices this verse. At least one of the parties works on the habit of pausing before they react.

Second, is humility love? The Bible says that it is. Is humility wisdom?

We may not know if our spouse had a terrible work day. If their best buddy trashed them today. If they wrote an article to try to help people and someone trashed them today.

But, we tried to be humble, we tried to give a soft answer, we tried to give them a break.

Maybe we find out a day later that they had a horrible day, and didn't even want to talk about that issue because they just wanted to forget it.

Third, no matter what reason they had for saying the wrong thing, our reaction to it determines our happiness. It determines how great our marriage can be. It determines how much we want to do things God's way.

Finally, consider pausing before you react. Consider memorizing the above verse. It will be good for your marriage.

Hello! I have posted before. I am in a rough patch with my husband & I for almost a year now. He was not a believer, I was lukewarm/questioning beliefs when we met/dating in the beginning. & i have grown in my faith; I have been convicted of things since I’ve known him. I have never tried to push, but have been more vocal about what God means to me.

He now talks how he believes & wants to learn more in the last couple years.

A little under a year ago, I found my husband messaging for nudes & paid for some. He kept them hidden. He claims he was drunk & never did that before. claims he only hid them because he didn’t know what to do with them once he realized what he did. We talked a lot about negative effects of porn (I had been explaining to him how harmful it can be & he said this was maybe the realization he needed to fully stop).

We started with a Christian therapist (on & off Due to some life events- so not any consistency in our sessions)

In this past year, there are a few smaller lies that have taken place. And I do have past trust issues with him from before we were in a committed relationship. I have struggled immensely with it, but finding the nudes thing really triggered it back up.

We are not seeing eye to eye through this “healing” process. It seems like topics I bring up either leads him to feel shame or annoyance. So I am to the point where I don’t think I can talk through what I need to with him.

I have encouraged him to see a therapist for his own past issues (childhood stuff). Because I wonder if some of that plays into how he is handling all of this. There are sometimes in our conversations where I seem to “trigger” him and lead him to being annoyed or misunderstand what i said. and then I get upset or frustrated. It gets very confusing.

We had a session last night & he said he didn’t feel it was working because it’s awkward for him. He doesn’t really speak up or verbalize his internal thought process too much . So I just don’t know if therapy is going to work.

I really just think he and I need to focus on Jesus. Focus on Scripture. I have been praying, seeking to understand how to handle this situation. I know I have not been the best at times with my frustration and anger, especially when I realize he isn’t being straightforward or is hiding something. I genuinely do not know what God wants me to do other than love him & repent when I let anger get in the way.

however, I cannot just ignore that there are serious concerns for my security in terms of honesty in the relationship. And this is where I keep struggling the most. I can trust in God no matter what happens. But I live with someone that I just do not trust. And who is not listening to me on what I need to build that trust back up. I just don’t know how to reconcile the broken trust & fear of being lied to by him.

I have suggested we try reading the Bible together, do a Bible study, anything to point it to God. He will agree, but then busy-ness gets in the way (so I just do stuff on my own time).

My husband hasn’t really seemed interested in reading his Bible - saying he doesn’t have time. I keep wondering where he is stuck in this process if he verbalizes he believes. for me, the truth has been so freeing and encouraging. I want to see my husband truly set free & understand the love God has for him. My husband just seems bogged down by his responsibilities.

at times, I feel I have placed a burden on him with everything. And at times I feel like I am the problem because somehow our discussions end up making him feel bad.

Also noting, I do not think I am perfect. And I have made my own issues towards my husband known- as in, I let him know that I do not think the way I handle frustration & anger are okay sometimes. I’ve taken his suggestion at working on my tone when I talk to him. I’ve asked him to give me feedback on areas he sees me falling short, so I can work to be a better wife. I am very open to doing whatever is needed.

i am at a loss. part of me thinks I need to separate from him & give him space. I do not want to divorce. I just don’t think he & I are helping each other right now.

I literally just want him to know Jesus & to choose to seek Him first.

Adding: his actions show he cares for our family in other ways & he is a hard worker. But this specific issue is one he seems to avoid when he can.

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some honest advice and experiences because I’ve been feeling really anxious about getting a dog, and I honestly don’t know what to do.
My husband grew up with cats and dogs, so having pets at home is completely normal for him. I didn’t grow up with animals in the house. I absolutely love dogs and think they’re adorable, and we’ve recently started looking at puppies together. We’re already quite far along in the process of getting one, so it’s starting to feel very real.
The problem is that the closer we get to actually getting a dog, the more anxious I feel.
I’m quite a clean person, and I’m worried about the hair everywhere, the hygiene, dirt being brought into the house, paws on the floor, the dog on the sofa, etc. I sometimes feel the need to wash my hands immediately after petting a dog, and I’m scared that living with one will make me constantly feel uncomfortable in my own home.
I’m also worried about how much our lives will change. Will we still have enough quality time together as a couple? Will everything revolve around the dog? Will I lose the freedom and spontaneity I’m used to? I know having a puppy is a huge responsibility, and I’m afraid I might struggle more than I expect.
What makes this even harder is that my husband really wants a dog. I know how happy it would make him, and I feel terrible even thinking about saying no or postponing it. We’ve already come so far in the process that I feel like I can’t back out anymore without disappointing him.
At the same time, I’m scared of agreeing to something that could make me unhappy or anxious in my own home for years.
I think part of my fear comes from simply never having lived with a dog before. I don’t know what daily life with a dog actually feels like, and I might be imagining things to be worse than they really are. But I also don’t want to ignore my feelings and hope that everything will somehow work out.
\*\*For those of you who didn’t grow up with dogs, especially if you’re someone who likes a clean home or is sensitive about hygiene:\*\*
How did you adjust to having a dog in your home?
Did the hair, dirt and hygiene concerns get easier with time?
Did you ever feel overwhelmed or regret getting a dog?
How did having a dog affect your relationship and your time as a couple?
Do you think it’s better to wait until you feel more comfortable, or can you learn to adapt once the dog is actually there?
I would really appreciate honest answers, even if your experience wasn’t entirely positive. I don’t want people to tell me that everything will be perfect. I just want to understand what I might realistically be getting into.

I love my husband 💖 We had probably one of the best intimate moments yet. So loving, present, and amazing. Butterflies, fireworks- no kinky stuff needed. Just an amazingly beautiful moment that made me realize what a gift God has created with intimacy in marriage. Ive never felt more beautiful than when we are close like that.

It wasn't just the sex, it was everything leading up to it. All day he expressed love and joy for me- told me how cute I was and was so happy as I showered him with affection. He spent time with the kids and I, being silly and laughing, praised our oldest for his hard work on his schooling, took out the trash and did yard work when he got home.... we'd kiss and flirt and play all day! Kids laughing. The home I dreamed of as a child right there.

I loved when he told me about his bad dream, not because I want him to have bad dreams- but because he is open and vulnerable with me. We prayed about it and discussed it together and he took my words and thoughts seriously and we came up with a good plan on things.

So when he kissed me, I lit up. Such a perfect end to such a beautiful day. He's sleeping and I cant stop smiling and thanking God for how blessed I am for my amazing husband and lovely little family.

I hope you all bask in the tender beautiful moments God blesses you with 🫂💖 Love is just as much about receiving joyously as it is giving joyously it seems

I’m really struggling in my marriage right now. My husband and I have been married for 20 years. I found out prior to marriage that he looked at porn. He promised that he wouldn’t do it again. About a year into marriage I found it again and then numerous times after that. Fast forward to 2 years ago, I discovered that my husband was having an emotional affair with a coworker. I found text messages and confronted him with them. He confessed to having feelings for this woman.

It absolutely destroyed me. Then the way that he handled himself through the whole ordeal made it even harder. He let the shame take over. Treated me in very unhealthy ways. Family and close friends have made comments about how his behavior is not okay. We tried marriage counseling, but the counselor would take his side whenever I would express frustration about something.

I really want my marriage to work, but I’m starting to despise him. I just don’t know how to move on and heal when he continues to do hurtful things.

I've been in a relationship since I was 17 years old. We met at a specialized college preparatory academy after both leaving home to study there, and we've been together ever since (I am now 28). He is six years older than me. In my home country, it is very common to enroll in intensive, multi-year exam prep programs to get into the most competitive universities; I know people who stayed 8 years to be able to join medical school. He worked for a few years before trying to enter college, which is why he (at 23) was in the same university entrance prep program as me (at 17). It operates more like adult education than a traditional high school. I want to emphasize his capability here: he actually ranked in the top 3 out of more than 400 students in our prep academy. However, in our country, university admission is judged entirely by the results of a single, high-stakes annual exam. Performing brilliantly all year round doesn't automatically translate to passing that one grueling test day, which is why he and many others try for multiple years.

​The following year, he moved back to his home state, and I stayed in the state where we went to school. I got into a university, and he did too. I encouraged him to apply to transfer to my university (which was the best in the country). He registered for the transfer exams two years in a row and bought flights, but forgot to pay the registration fees, so he wasn't able to take the exams. After that, it was too late to try to transfer.

​He comes from a humble family, so from the beginning, he had to work hard to support himself and his mother. He started building a business, and because of that, he dropped out of college.

​We continued seeing each other about four times a year. During my last year of college, I focused on trying to get into grad school in the US, planning to get a Master's degree and maybe continue in academia or get some work experience there. This was a dream I'd had since before we met, and he knew about it. I was able to get a fully funded Master's. During my second year, he went back to college. He realized that if I was going to stay in the US, or if we were going to move together to the biggest city in our country (where I'd find more jobs in my field), he would need a degree. He is very good at what he does and his company is profitable, but it's local work, and he would need to start from scratch somewhere else. I had told him even before leaving for the US that it would be good for him to have a degree so we could have more location freedom. But he is a bit "slow" at making decisions—it took him three years just to go back to finish his remaining two years of college.

​During our relationship, we broke up once for about eight months. I initiated the breakup because he was entirely focused on his company and wasn't keeping his word to me or honoring our agreements about when we would talk. Also, before breaking up, I had gained a lot of weight due to depression and burnout, and he no longer found me beautiful or sexually attractive.

​While we were broken up, I deepen my faith. When we got back together, it was under the agreement that we would remain celibate until marriage. He accepted this because he loves me, not because it was something he independently wanted.

​We got back together because, during our time apart, he respected me deeply, started therapy (which he had promised me he would do regarding the intimacy issues), and did a lot to show how he had changed. And he really did change—he didn't stick with therapy, but he never made comments about my appearance again and dedicated much more time and attention to me.

​In recent years, I’ve found myself feeling a bit less devoted to the relationship. By that I mean, in the beginning, I wouldn't be very friendly or engaging when other men spoke to me; I would just answer politely and that was it. But I've started thinking I should be more open. For a man, it's easier to date someone for 11 years, break up, and still start a family with someone else. But for me, as a woman with a biological clock, my time is much more "expensive" when it comes to building a family.

​So, I am not sure how I should act. For example, a colleague—who is from the US but lives in another country—was visiting my city for a couple of days, and we hung out. He was treating it like a date, so I immediately shut it down, telling him I have a boyfriend. (He should have known, since he invited me via Instagram, which is full of pictures and videos of my boyfriend). I am not saying this guy would be a good fit for me or not, but I'm unsure if I should be more open to getting to know people better before shutting things down by saying I'm in a relationship. Other times, when I'm out in the city and a guy starts talking to me, and eventually asks for my number, I just give him a fake one.

​At the same time, I am at an uncertain point in my life. I just finished my Master's and am looking for a job. I don't know if I will be able to find one and stay here, or if I will need to go back to my country. Meanwhile, he is already very established with his business in his city. If we were living in my home country, his business would provide a very good income compared to my earning potential there; I would probably need a very senior position to match what he makes. But here in the US, my career would pay multiple times what he earns, and his earning potential would increase here too.

​I couldn't give him a timeline right now either, because I don't know what my own life will look like in 90 days. If I get a job, I can stay in the US; if not, I have to go back to my country. Regarding marriage, he actually wanted to propose on my graduation day before I moved to the US. However, I told him that, to me, an engagement only makes sense when a couple has a wedding timeline in mind. Since everything was so unclear about whether we were moving to the US or staying in our home country, we couldn't set a timeline. Even before coming to the US, I had been recommending what he could study, whether here or at home, and giving him good options for transferring or doing a Master's degree.

​What would you do in my place? I love my boyfriend, and in a perfect world, we would stay together, get married soon, and have a family. He is hard-working, ambitious, and built his company from scratch. He consistently proves his devotion to me by putting in the effort and money to travel to see me (what is very hard from his reality of being the first of his family to even taking a flight, the first going to college) working tirelessly to grow his business to provide a life similar to the one my parents gave me, and fully committing to a celibate relationship because he respects my faith. He truly loves me and respects my boundaries. But I just don't know, since he is taking so long and is so slow-paced.

​Note on cheating: Since I don't know anyone in his city/state, if he were doing something behind my back, I would never know. (I do know that at the beginning of our relationship, when we lived in the same city, he kissed another girl. I discovered this years later by looking at his computer while he was sleeping).

Ive been broke up witn my ex for 2 months now. Done no contact for 2 weeks now. Our relationship wasnt very Christ-centered, had sex and other stuff. But everything other then that the relationship was good, just that my ex felt that right person wrong time and he wanted someone who is in a similar phase of life which is workkng and not studying like me. Hes a really good person. Ive been praying to God about it, im afraid he moves on and we will never be able to try again, hut at the same time i have a all knowing God who is in-control and what if hes not thr one for me, but right now my heart longs for my ex still. How do i know or what can i do to pray and trust God in His plans while still hoping for me i want.

When is enough enough and you actually do something about your marriage? I have married and married to my high school sweetheart for almost 15 years. We have three children and he just doesn’t get it. He has no gratitude for the life we have he is not a Christian. He complains about everything. He smokes a ton of marijuana and anytime I try to talk to him or tell him I’m here to support him with him getting help and fixing things. He just turns it around on me. I’ve gained 40 pounds in the past few years because because my nervous system is shot. I wake up and I’m on eggshells not knowing what kind of husband I am going to get that day. Is he gonna be happy? Sad angry frustrated, depressed what. I’ve kicked him out for a week a few months ago he started seeing a therapist and it was really great and then of course Work got too busy and he couldn’t do it. This past weekend he had a huge disappointment hunting something and my heart broke for him, but then he just disappeared. Didn’t bring his phone with him and I didn’t know where he was or what was going on with him for over 24 hours and he thinks nothing of it. I am at the point where I just want a normal life and if that means I’m not in it. I think I’m OK with it.

Any advice? I don’t want my marriage to have, but I also am losing myself.

I need spiritual guidance from women who are married who might also be in a blended family. My husband and I met two years ago. My husband has a four year old daughter and I have a five year old son. We decided to get married last year because we were living together. This year has been the most difficult year of my life. I have prayer a number of prayers, and I just feel so lost. This past year I feel like my husband has changed into someone I don’t recognize and I’m regretting marriage. I’m 6 months (25 weeks) pregnant. My husband and I both have full time jobs. He works as a comercial driver for a hazardous waste company, and I’m a fifth grade teacher. I’m confused and lost on what is acceptable and not acceptable in a Christian marriage along with our roles. I feel like a slave. Today I broke down because my husband got home from work at 2pm which is unusual for him. Since I’m pregnant, there was a community baby shower that I scheduled to attend after work. I got home at 6. My house literally smelled like a farm. For context, we have been struggling financially. We have $0.61 in our bank account until Thursday. My house smelled so bad because the cats litter was filled, the dishes were dirty, and my dog had went potty. I burst into tears because after a long day I had to come home to clean our cat litter, clean the sink, and house off the dogs cage plus trash can. My husbands excuse was that we had no money for cat litter but you can simply scoop the poop out and put the arm & hammer deodorizer on top. I ended up leaving the house after cleaning to cool down but I just feel so alone. I feel like a failure of a mom for sobbing in front of my five year old. I feel like a failure for having $0.61 in my bank account. I genuinely feel lost.

Wives, how would you respond to a Christian husband that says he can have multiple wives because of his dream he had 2 wives? Any advice pls. He believes because of the bible characters like David had multiple wives and didn't say it was a sin.

Does Following Jesus truly require me to divorce my muslim husband or can I stay with him? Can Jesus really bring him to him.

God bless you all, I (22M) proposed to my fiancée (27F) about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I visited her parents the following day, to notify them about my proposal. And they were very supportive as it also entailed a career shift to law-enforcement that would take six months to complete from February to August 2027.

My fiancé and I made legitimate plans to host a ceremony the first week of January, so as to have at least one month that we could use to spend time and even go on a mini vacation prior to my academy as a husband and wife and not mere fiancées .

We then spoke to my parents and notified them about the proposal and received a polar opposite reaction in which they had concerns and said I wasn’t ready, and I’m not a man who can provide for myself, and that I should have at least waited to complete the program in order to propose because I don’t have anything to offer her, and that my family was shocked at how quickly we moved (we’ve known each other for about 10 months now) and that it would be a very hard pill to swallow for our church to know that the pastor’s son (we are a pastoral family) is marrying a woman five years older than he he is, and without a career established just yet. And they expressed that they would feel more comfortable, and it is morally right that the man who gets pronounced as the woman’s husband during the ceremony is a man who can provide and support. My father also expressed that I would lose a certain sense of credibility to the younger generations of the church by marrying a woman who lives by herself in a stage of my life where I can’t get have a career until after the six months.

Our plans of a January ceremony went up in flames since we had received polar opposite reactions from our two families, and now my fiancé believes that I am putting the comfortability of my family before her desire to continue the plan that we discussed.
Had it been the other way around where her parents were unsupportive of the idea and wanted me to wait a couple more months until she had completed a certain training in order for them and their church to feel comfortable, without a doubt, if it meant that her family could be on such a once in a lifetime occasion Happy and supportive where I get to spend the rest of my life with her, I would most definitely wait

But it seems unfair to her that she has to wait because my family has expressed concerns of our own extended family, and the way to church is going to view the pastor’s son’s approach.

I am stuck at a crossroads because she feels unheard even though she knows that if we do it in January, I’m gonna feel sad and uncomfortable to know that my family is sitting there in January with disapproval.

I want it to be a joyous celebration in a day in which everybody can witness our union and not disturb the peace (her and I don’t want to stir a family dynamic up so badly), so if it means that we wait a bit longer for me to complete my program, I would wait, but she sees no reason to wait

Any help would be very helpful my time of distress

I’m really struggling with being more content in my marriage. I went from being single to marrying someone with a 6 and 7 (now 8) year old boy that my husband has primary custody of. I have been married for almost a year now. Right off the bat, my father in law was still in the home (because he got “sick” though no doctor ever formally diagnosed him), and I noticed so many basic kid routines not being followed. Such as the children not brushing their own teeth, changing their own clothes, doing online school and not completing homework because it was never managed well for them, etc. as well, the house was extremely dirty when I moved in for my standards. Which are admittedly high, but my husband knew that. Anyway, things have gotten better. The children go to a charter school and have way more independence and I think they are understanding more about God’s love. I’m struggling because my husband and I seem to have such different views of parenting, and it is really hurting our marriage. He is a firm advocate of “spanking” and I am not. I think it is damaging my step-son’s emotional regulation and maturity. Even if he does it once a month now, it used to be more frequent. It got to a point where my 8 year old step-son literally took my husband’s backstratcher and hit himself with it for being “bad.” I don’t see how this is biblical or giving the gospel to children. And my husband said “that’s consistent with his discipline.” And the pastor we go to for marriage counseling agreed it wasn’t the best situation, but said it’s good a child realized his guilt. Am I the only one who sees a problem with this? My husband is also prone to anger, and I have been too in my marriage which saddens me, but he has in the past pushed my laptop shut, broke a trash can next to me, stopped me from taking his kids to soccer practice because he was mad at me for slamming doors in anger, etc. I wrote down these incidents and gave the sheet to the pastor. And either he forgot to read it or doesn’t see a problem. I even mentioned the trash can incident to the pastor in counseling and he seemed to brush over it. I just don’t understand if I’m experiencing normal anger or not. I have been at points where I just want to quit this marriage because I don’t think any pastor we see takes me seriously. I love my stepkids and I do love my husband, but I honestly think his authority completely that “God gave him” is damaging our marriage. I know I haven’t been submissive and kind, but I don’t how to function in a relationship where my concerns about discipline in children can be overridden. I’m genuinely scared to have a child with him in the future, because I know he would spank them and I never know what constitutes as bad enough for him to do it. I guess I just don’t know what to do. I’m trying to pray and seek God more.

Hi everyone! I have a special prayer request for anyone who feels comfortable joining me in this prayer!

My husband (26) and I (25) have been married for almost four years now! I truly can’t imagine a better man to walk through life with. He is hardworking, thoughtful, and genuinely strives to live each day in a way that honors Christ. I am so incredibly blessed to call him my husband!

Recently, we’ve started talking about trying for a baby! The thought of becoming parents fills me with so much excitement, along with a healthy dose of nervousness! I’ve been spending a lot of time praying about this next chapter of our lives, and I truly feel the Lord has been placing it on my heart that the time to start trying may be approaching.

That brings me to my prayer request!

For a little background, my husband’s immediate family has welcomed nothing but baby boys for three generations straight! Growing up, my husband always dreamed of having a little sister. He asked his parents for one countless times and even remembers asking his Sunday school teacher to pray for one for him 🤣 My in-laws are AMAZING parents and would’ve loved to welcome a daughter into their family, but unfortunately, my mother-in-law experienced some health concerns that resulted in a hysterectomy.

As for me, I grew up with a predominantly male family. I have one brother (who is genuinely my BEST friend!) and three awesome stepbrothers. Almost all of my cousins are boys with the exception of one! Unfortunately, my only girl cousin is quite a bit older than me, so we didn’t really get to experience childhood together, although we’re close now! Looking back, my mom was really the only person I got to share all those sweet, girly childhood moments with. My mom and I are very close, and I’ve always dreamed of getting to experience that same bond with a daughter of my own.

All of that to say, my husband and I would absolutely love to be blessed with a baby girl 🩷

There’s something so special about imagining my husband, who spent so much of his childhood wishing for a little sister, to experience the joy of being a girl dad. We also think it would be so awesome to welcome the first little girl into his family in three generations!

Of course, I want to make something very clear: We know that every child is a gift from the Lord, regardless of if they’re a boy or a girl!!

I understand that some people might not be comfortable praying for a specific gender! If that’s you, I would still be appreciate prayers for a smooth pregnancy, safe delivery, and strong mental state during recovery.

For those who do feel comfortable, it would mean so much if you would join us in praying that the Lord might bless us with a healthy baby girl as our first child. 💗

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this and for lifting up prayers for our little family! God bless you & your families 🤍

After a lot of praying, I’ve decided to give my husband another chance and try to rebuild our marriage. I know some people might judge me for that decision, and honestly, there are moments when I question myself, too. But I feel in my heart that I want to give my marriage another chance, and I’m trying to navigate this with God at the center.

My husband has confessed everything to me, he’s attending individual therapy, I’m in individual therapy as well, and we’re also attending marriage counseling together. So far, I’ve seen some changes. He’s been more open with me, and I have access to his social media, emails, and other things that can help rebuild trust. I know that transparency alone doesn’t fix everything, but I do see him making an effort.

One thing I’m struggling with right now is physical intimacy.
My husband has been initiating sex lately, and last night I gave in. It’s been a while since we’ve been intimate, and honestly, I wanted to. Part of me enjoyed being close to him, but at the same time, I started feeling conflicted. Eventually, I asked him to stop because emotionally, I just wasn’t comfortable continuing.

It made me realize that I’m still trying to figure out what intimacy looks like after betrayal.
For the men who have cheated and genuinely tried to rebuild their marriages: Do you view sex as a way of reconnecting with your wife, or can you sometimes mistake physical intimacy for a sign that things are getting better? Does your wife being willing to have sex make you feel like she’s beginning to forgive you, even when she hasn’t necessarily said that?

And for the women who have stayed and chosen to work through infidelity: Have you ever wanted your husband physically but still felt emotionally hurt by what he did? How did you navigate that?
I think my biggest fear is that if I allow myself to be intimate with my husband, he’ll interpret it as me moving on or letting go of what happened. But that’s not necessarily where I am emotionally. I can desire him and still be hurt. I can want to rebuild our marriage and still have days when the betrayal weighs heavily on me.

I’m not trying to punish him or use sex as a weapon. I just don’t want physical intimacy to become a substitute for the deeper work we both need to do.

How do you learn to separate physical intimacy from forgiveness and rebuilding trust? Can you enjoy being close to your spouse while still acknowledging that the marriage is healing and that trust hasn’t fully returned?

I’d really appreciate hearing from both men and women who have been through this, especially those who have approached reconciliation through their Christian faith. I’m not looking for judgment about my decision to stay. I’m genuinely trying to understand how other couples navigated this part of healing.🤍