Broken Pieces: Repairing the Damage of InfidelitySýnishorn

Congratulations brother! You made it to the last day of the devotional reading plan. As challenging and as painful as it may have been over the last couple of weeks for you, I hope this has also been a time of reconciliation, reflection and restoration for you and your marriage. The main objective of this devotional is to be a resource for countless men like you and me around the world who have made the terrible mistake of compromising the integrity of their marriage through infidelity or an extramarital affair. Too often in the world, we downplay the effects of adultery and unfaithfulness in marriage and treat it as common and acceptable, but that’s the world’s way of thinking. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Since we are men of God and followers of Jesus Christ, we must raise the standard, shift our mindset and bring honor back to the covenant and institution of marriage.

I was an athlete all throughout high school and college. I prided myself on being a fierce competitor and having a champion mindset. Although I was fortunate to experience success in the sport of wrestling at a high level, there was a time in my wrestling career that I suffered an injury that caused me to miss out on some major opportunities. My injury required rehab and physical therapy in order for me to get back to a condition where I could compete again. It was a major setback. I was inactive for a season and frustrated because I couldn’t compete nor was I an asset to the team. Eventually, I was able to get back on the mat and compete but I was never the same because of my injury and even to this day, I sometimes feel some of the residual effects of my injury from years ago. It's the same way when there’s infidelity committed in your marriage. Even though you may go through a healing process, whether it's through marriage counseling, recovery therapy or surrounding yourself with a community of believers, there is still residual pain and damage that lingers and you have to accept the fact that your marriage will never be the same. It’s a wound only God can heal. But I can assure you from experience, that if you submit to the healing process and allow God to take the driver’s seat of your marriage, He will not only heal your marriage but He can make it whole again. My wife and I are happy to be celebrating over three decades of marriage. Yes we went through some tumultuous storms, endured hardships but just like the three Hebrew boys who were thrown in the fiery furnace (read Daniel chapter 3), Jesus stepped in the fire with us and brought us out unsigned, refined with no residue of smoke. To God be the glory!

Brother, I want to sincerely thank you for joining me along with other men from all walks of life over the past couple of weeks in this reading plan. Let’s be realistic, all of the pain, trauma and damage caused as a result of your infidelity will not vanish away because you did a 12-day devotional. However, at least you now have some practical tools that can serve as a good starting point to your recovery process. Ultimately, my desire is to lead you back to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and have not been born again, will you join me in saying this prayer?

“Heavenly Father, thank You for not giving up on me. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I need a Savior. You love me in spite of my sin and selfishness and I am eternally grateful. I believe You paid the price for all my sins when you were crucified on the cross. Thank you for dying for me so that I could have eternal life. But you didn’t just die for me, you conquered the grave and rose again on the third day. And the same spirit that raised You from the dead now lives in me and I can live a life of freedom, righteousness and victory. I welcome You into my heart to be my Savior and Lord. I accept your free gift of salvation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

NEXT STEPS: Recognize who you are in Christ. Your life is now hidden in Him. Cultivate your relationship with Jesus through reading His word and prayer. Trust Him to help you cultivate and renew your relationship with your wife. Your latter days shall be greater than your former days. In Jesus’ name!