Lesson 81
Do Couples Continue To Struggle With Physical Intimacy?
Sexual impurity can invade any marriage, but it is often a topic that wives don’t want to share. Danielle felt that way because she and her husband were both leaders in their church. “Even in the darkest times, God has made Himself known to me. Though I didn’t feel free to share what was happening in my marriage with them, He gave me women to study His Word with. Knowing His Word strengthened me and helped me get through many difficult times.”
Danielle let us in on more of her story: “Though things have definitely improved, our sexual relationship is an area where we still struggle. As a young woman, sex was something I enjoyed, but very early in our marriage, it became tarnished by my husband’s sexual sin, his unrealistic view of women and sexuality, and his extreme selfishness in that area of our relationship. His sin and unhealthy attitudes regarding women and sex were, at least in part, the result of growing up in a sexually and emotionally dysfunctional home. However, when I gave voice to those thoughts, he became very angry and defensive. I grew to dislike sex, finding it both physically and emotionally painful. He also fought his own lonely battle with sexual sin. My husband finally surrendered this aspect of his life to the Lord. I don’t know if our sexual relationship will ever be all that God intended it to be, but I am thankful for the progress made and especially for the fact that he is finally willing and able to communicate openly about this topic. He now treats me with the respect that he always should have. God truly has changed his heart and I know that He’s healing me too!”