Forgiving Infidelity - The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional

Forgiving Infidelity

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Psalm 51:1,10

IS THERE LIFE AFTER AN AFFAIR? Can the marriage be healed? Yes, if there is genuine repentance and genuine forgiveness. Repentance means “to turn around.” In the case of an affair, it means that the adulterous relationship must be broken off.

If you are the one who had the affair, tell the other person involved that you have done wrong, have asked God to forgive you, and are going to work on restoring your marriage. Ask the person to forgive you for doing what was wrong and involving him or her in your infidelity. Then stop the extramarital relationship. In most cases, this will require breaking off all contact.

Now you are ready to ask your spouse to forgive you. Tell your mate that your sincere desire is to restore the marriage. Don’t press for quick and easy forgiveness. It will take time for your spouse to process the hurt and anger, so allow time to think and pray. Express your willingness to go for counseling. Don’t expect immediate healing. Allow time for talking, praying, and reading together.

Psalm 51 reveals King David’s remorse after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and his conspiring to have her husband killed. Read through this passage for a model of heartfelt repentance, and put David’s model into practice as you pick up the pieces of your marriage.

Father, thank you for your forgiveness that is great enough to cover even something like infidelity. If this is ever an issue in our marriage, I pray that we will have the right mind-set to deal with it. For this, and even lesser wrongs, I pray for appropriate repentance for the one who sinned and for your grace, peace, and forgiving spirit for the one who was wronged.

Infidelity