It’s not easy to edit someone else’s hard work or when deciding how to approach very sensitive topics. The editor for Pure Life Ministries faces this task daily.

Pure Life Ministries serves Christian individuals and organizations dealing with sexual temptations, sins and marital restoration.

They provide biblically based counseling, teaching materials and a public speaking ministry with the goal of leading Christians to victory over sexual issues and into a deeper life in God.

The following article was published by Pure Life in November. It seems a good follow-up to Todd’s recent sermons on these kinds of issues.

As with his sermons, this is not to single out anyone, nor to say anyone in particular has made this issue known. It is to minister to anyone who may face these issues.

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Forgetting Your Husbands Sin

I wanted to share this question from a lady who I think expresses the concerns of many women who have been hurt by their husband’s sin.

She said, “I have forgiven my repentant husband who has overcome; however, my mind can race and spiral to dark places of trying to imagine the prostitutes, the acts, everything that he did. How long does it take to stop the trauma in my mind and heart?”

I went through the same thing when I faced this years ago. I thought I would lose my mind trying to imagine what he did, how he did it, etc. I can’t tell you how long it took for the thoughts to quit because I couldn’t wait that long! I needed God to do for me what seemed impossible. I think as women we have this thing in us that wants to understand what our husbands have done. Our minds reach for some level of comprehension of their actions. The truth is, I really don’t think we could ever make sense of it.

I know that being able to communicate with my husband about our relationship was very helpful. I knew it would only make things worse to probe for details. What did help was for us to talk about our lives together and for him to open up about where he was in his heart.

Spending time in the Word gave me God’s perspective for my life and also brought much healing to my mind. Not being fixated on the past and trying to make the Bible squeeze into that small world also helped me. I let God’s Word open my heart and mind to a much bigger vision than just my pain. It was all part of my effort to get beyond the past and to move into the new life God has given to Steve and I. It was an act of true and healing forgiveness.