Deconstruction: The Bedroom – Sexual Purity Matters - Thursday
Today’s Verse
1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. (NLT)
I hate betrayal - when you trust someone and they betray that trust, you feel like you don’t matter. It feels like you were just being used for what the other person could get out of you. That is what an affair is. It's a betrayal. When the person you love and have committed your life to, before God, and your friends and family, decides to have sex with someone else, it feels like your heart is being ripped out, and then stepped on. You may think, “What have I done to deserve this?” “Could this be my fault?” “What should I do to try to fix it?” You're embarrassed, angry, frustrated, sad, depressed. How could someone do this to you?
If you're the one who had the affair, you might have used some of these excuses to justify your actions: 'If they would just pay more attention to me,' 'This is all their fault,' or 'If they would change, I would change. You might also be experiencing a range of emotions: embarrassment, anger, frustration, sadness, depression, or a sense of emptiness. You may feel lost, guilty, ashamed, unwanted, and alone.
While this isn't true for everyone involved in infidelity, many people do experience these feelings. Both the betrayer and the betrayed can feel hopeless and lost like this is the end. But I'm here to tell you that there is hope. God sees you in your pain and fear, and He wants to help you both. He is a God of restoration, redemption, and hope, who loves you unconditionally, regardless of your circumstances or sin.
As 2 Corinthians 5:19 reminds us, 'God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.' And he has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation. Whether you're the one who had the affair or the one who was betrayed, I want you to know that your feelings are valid. Restoring the marriage may not be an option, but reconciliation with God is always possible.
Take time to talk to the Lord. Express your feelings, your hurt, and your pain. Then, begin the process of surrendering those burdens to Him. Rest in His presence, and let His love wash over you. Healing may take time, but it's worth it. Find someone you can trust to talk to, whether it's a friend, counselor, or support group. Share your experiences and work through the emotions you're feeling.
Remember, God's got this and He is with you - He can help you find peace and healing.
REFLECTION
If you need help finding someone to talk to, please, call Southland at (859)224-1600. Or go to southland.church/help and someone will help get you to the right person.