Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
-Galatians 6:2, NIV
When dealing with infidelity discovery and divorce, no shortage of worries exist for the faithful spouse. The anxiety load is heavy!
A word of advice for those wanting to truly help faithful spouses:
Become aware of your own anxieties so that you do not off-load those anxieties on an already taxed friend!
I know this is easier said than done. But it is worth while to do. The Apostle Paul in Galatians is very clear we are to be burden sharing not burden adding–especially to a friend under duress.
-This is not the time to share your fears that your friend will die alone surrounded by cats and books (as if that is a bad way to go).
-This is not the time to share your fears about your friend’s finances (unless you have a constructive solution).
-This is not the time to shame them back into an abusive relationship by offloading your fears about the well-being of the kids in this.
This time is difficult enough without someone needlessly feeding the fears faithful spouses already have. Adding to an already heavy anxiety load does the faithful spouse no good.
We need faith support, NOT fear support!
