I wonder if I can add something- but just a prospective.........
I got married at the age of 21 years old, neither me or my husband were Christian- I came to faith three years into my marriage, my husband never came to faith. 24years into the marriage I found out that he was having an affair, but God laid it on my heart to forgive- but the marriage was never the same. Three years later , I remember it so clearly, the Holy Spirit laid three words on my heart' let him go ' - I had no idea why, or what it was linked to. Two days later the Holy Spirit laid a command on my heart ' ask Jeff about his secrets' - at first I did not obey, but then the command came again. I picked up courage and asked him, he had no choice but to admit to having another affair.
I had valued my marriage, and longed for the day he would come to faith. However God knew that I could not end my marriage without his permission- in that moment I knew that the words ' let him go ' was God saying ' it's okay' - my 27 year old marriage ended. Now two years later my eldest son took a massive overdose- he was so burdened. He thankfully survived and three months later fell into my arms in tears and confessed that my ex had shared his secret affairs with him since he was 16 years old ( he was 27years old when he told me ) I found out that night that my ex had been unfaithful for over 16 years with many different women.
My marriage had been a lie. Two months after my marriage ended, he became engaged to his new partner- we had not even discussed divorce. There is more to the story, but the grief and pain I felt when my marriage died was so deep it took much healing, but God used it all to heal so much more within me. I have come alongside so many Christian women who have abusive marriage, who have divorced and been heartbroken- but what adds to their heartache is the judgments of other Christians - I have yet to meet one Christian women who wanted to divorce, who wanted their marriages to die.
I am grateful that I encountered a compassionate and caring savour throughout my own experience- but boy do other Christians who have not walked that path find it so easy to condemn.
I do not share this in defence of anything I have done- God knows my heart, situation and I have peace about the whole thing.............
I agree that Satan wants to destroy marriages, but abuse within marriage can equally destroy children. For those of you who have true Godly husbands, embrace and be thankful - for it is a true blessing and one that not all people have. Xxxxxxx
Butterfly