Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage Read Online Free Page A
Author: Lynn Donovan, Dineen Miller
all. I had pleaded with him to be part of this world of mine. But he was adamant: “I don’t buy into all this ‘God stuff.’ ”
Finally, the service began. A silent breath of relief escaped my lips as the praise team took the stage.
Perhaps no one will notice me sitting here all by myself
.
That’s when it happened. A young couple scooted into the chairs in front of me; naturally, they were holding hands. My chest tightened as I watched the man lean toward his wife’s face. He flashed her an I’m-so-in-love-with-you-and-glad-to-be-in-church-with-you smile. I caught my breath and immediately looked down at my folded hands resting in my lap. Emotion welled up from within and ran over me. This couple’s innocent exchange ripped open a pain in my chest.
Suppressed longing swelled out of control and then began to cool into a growing and familiar resentment. All of a sudden, I didn’t like this couple so much. They represented everything I was missing in my marriage. Of course, the unsuspecting twosome had no idea how much I desperately wanted what they took for granted. I yearned to sit with my husband in church. I dreamed of holding his hand or looking up a Bible verse together and smiling over the intimacy of a shared faith.
The service continued. I could hear singing around me, but I was only vaguely aware of it. Finally, I lifted my head as the pastor took his place for the message. I tried to focus, but it was useless. His words floated off over my head, unheard. My thoughts fixated on this happy couple and on what they had that I didn’t.
My loneliness intensified.
The Alone Factor
For most believers, attending church is an uncomplicated, enjoyable experience. Yet for the spiritually mismatched, our time spent in church can be a giant point of contention and conflict with our husband and even within our self. And it’s not just church. We, the unequally yoked, often feel alone in many aspects of our marriage.
So how is it that many of us who believe in Christ and the Word of God find ourselves in a place such as this, a spiritually mismatched marriage? How can we be married and yet alone? Our struggles are unique when compared to marriages where faith isn’t an issue. But what do we do about the faith gap in our relationship with our spouse?
These are great questions. As we explore the truths of living, loving and thriving in a spiritually mismatched marriage, we will look to God’s Word for our truth. We can depend on the Lord to show us where we are today in our marriage and where He wants us to be in the future. We have a few laughs ahead, some freedoms to discover, maybe a tear or two and a marriage to revive. Are you ready to find the hope you have been missing? Then let’s get started.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14).
If you have picked up this book, it’s likely that you are keenly aware of this verse. In fact, you are living smack in the middle of this passage every day. This verse can be a heavy load on your soul at times, yet it serves as a light to truth. So, how is it that women, even believing women, find themselves in an unequally yoked marriage?
There are actually several different paths. In the beginning of this book, I shared with you my story. If you remember, I stepped away from my faith and took the prodigal route. I don’t pretend that I didn’t know the biblical teachings of 2 Corinthians 6:14. I just flat out ignored God’s command and married my unbelieving fiancé, thinking that I knew what was best for me. I was convinced that my man would see the light quickly after our wedding. Dineen found faith as a young girl, yet she also floundered for a period of time. She fully returned to her faith when her girls were little. I find that this is common for many women who married an unbeliever. Becoming a parent often stirs women to return to
Finally, the service began. A silent breath of relief escaped my lips as the praise team took the stage.
Perhaps no one will notice me sitting here all by myself
.
That’s when it happened. A young couple scooted into the chairs in front of me; naturally, they were holding hands. My chest tightened as I watched the man lean toward his wife’s face. He flashed her an I’m-so-in-love-with-you-and-glad-to-be-in-church-with-you smile. I caught my breath and immediately looked down at my folded hands resting in my lap. Emotion welled up from within and ran over me. This couple’s innocent exchange ripped open a pain in my chest.
Suppressed longing swelled out of control and then began to cool into a growing and familiar resentment. All of a sudden, I didn’t like this couple so much. They represented everything I was missing in my marriage. Of course, the unsuspecting twosome had no idea how much I desperately wanted what they took for granted. I yearned to sit with my husband in church. I dreamed of holding his hand or looking up a Bible verse together and smiling over the intimacy of a shared faith.
The service continued. I could hear singing around me, but I was only vaguely aware of it. Finally, I lifted my head as the pastor took his place for the message. I tried to focus, but it was useless. His words floated off over my head, unheard. My thoughts fixated on this happy couple and on what they had that I didn’t.
My loneliness intensified.
The Alone Factor
For most believers, attending church is an uncomplicated, enjoyable experience. Yet for the spiritually mismatched, our time spent in church can be a giant point of contention and conflict with our husband and even within our self. And it’s not just church. We, the unequally yoked, often feel alone in many aspects of our marriage.
So how is it that many of us who believe in Christ and the Word of God find ourselves in a place such as this, a spiritually mismatched marriage? How can we be married and yet alone? Our struggles are unique when compared to marriages where faith isn’t an issue. But what do we do about the faith gap in our relationship with our spouse?
These are great questions. As we explore the truths of living, loving and thriving in a spiritually mismatched marriage, we will look to God’s Word for our truth. We can depend on the Lord to show us where we are today in our marriage and where He wants us to be in the future. We have a few laughs ahead, some freedoms to discover, maybe a tear or two and a marriage to revive. Are you ready to find the hope you have been missing? Then let’s get started.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14).
If you have picked up this book, it’s likely that you are keenly aware of this verse. In fact, you are living smack in the middle of this passage every day. This verse can be a heavy load on your soul at times, yet it serves as a light to truth. So, how is it that women, even believing women, find themselves in an unequally yoked marriage?
There are actually several different paths. In the beginning of this book, I shared with you my story. If you remember, I stepped away from my faith and took the prodigal route. I don’t pretend that I didn’t know the biblical teachings of 2 Corinthians 6:14. I just flat out ignored God’s command and married my unbelieving fiancé, thinking that I knew what was best for me. I was convinced that my man would see the light quickly after our wedding. Dineen found faith as a young girl, yet she also floundered for a period of time. She fully returned to her faith when her girls were little. I find that this is common for many women who married an unbeliever. Becoming a parent often stirs women to return to
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