Christina, thank you for sharing your experience. I think a support group would be very helpful to women in this situation. Although finding a time/space for them to connect could prove challenging… Praying the Lord will show you what is needed.

My concern is not every woman is “free” to do these things as their husbands demand they not spend that time at church, my husband works a lot and doesn’t mind if I participate. I am actually meeting with our women’s ministry leader to talk about starting a support group for women in this position in life. I personally have struggled in the past with feeling like if I grow in Christ too much my marriage won’t last because he won’t keep up and we will be too different, I’ve been belittled and mocked for reading my bible at home, I’ve felt ashamed to sit alone in church service, I’ve been inadequate as a Christian because I can’t even get my husband to love Jesus how am I going to effect other people. I know now that none of these things are true and they are lies from the enemy but many women may not know that and if they don’t know others are like they may just give up and quit coming all together.

So for all the women on here that are in this situation I am curious what would you benefit from in a small group/support group with women in the same situation?

Oh, Elaine… thank you for your message. I am so sorry that you are struggling to connect in your new church. Have you reached out to the women’s ministry director? She may be able to help you get connected. You may also want to consider seeking biblical counseling to help you with your depression and marriage.

I pray you won’t give up hope that your husband will become a believer. One of the sweetest baptisms I ever witnessed was a man in his 70’s whose wife had prayed for him for years! Praying God will help you to live out 1 Peter 3:1-2, “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.”

Every time there is an activity advertised for couples, like “Date Night Dinner”, “Marriage Renewal”, or a family event, I wish I could participate. But I stay home feeling left out and lonely.

My current church family is a wonderful group of mostly young families so the activities are geared more to young couples and children. I have no grandchildren. In another church I led a Pioneer Girl class for two years and loved having the connection with 8-10 year old girls but I’m in a new church now and there are mostly very large farm families with 4-6 children each. I haven’t been able to connect with so many children. With COVID restrictions I have missed many Sunday’s and could only watch services on Youtube.

I guess I’m feeling lonely and disconnected from church and my husband. We can’t have any deep discussion about mostly anything. I’ve tried to gently share my feelings but he just feels threatened by what he doesn’t know and can’t control.

I’m depressed and feeling like all I can do is try to accept where I am and not have hope that my life will change. I try to earnestly pray for my husband but that gets more difficult each day.

Thanks for giving me a way to voice these feelings, something that’s hard for me to do openly.

Bless you for caring.

Sherrie, so glad you found it helpful! 🙂

Shelly – thank you so much for your words of wisdom!