Grieving the Marriage You Thought You’d Have
No one expects life to bring heartbreak. When know theologically, we live in a fallen world. We read in Scripture that trials and tribulation will come, not if, but when the heartbreak comes,
“Dear Jolene,
Is it wrong to grieve the marriage I thought I’d have? I love my husband. I’m committed to him. But sometimes I catch myself mourning the marriage I pictured on my wedding day, the one without the specific disappointments and silences I’ve actually lived through. I feel guilty even admitting that. Like a good Christian wife shouldn’t feel this way.
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Show Notes
Anchor Verse: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Episode summary: A wife’s question opens this episode: is it wrong to grieve the marriage she thought she’d have, even while loving and staying committed to the husband she actually has? Jolene and Eric explore the difference between grief that moves toward healing and grief that calcifies into resentment, and offer a path toward grieving honestly without getting stuck.
In this episode:
- Why grief isn’t only for what’s died, but also for the gap between hope and reality
- The difference between grief and bitterness, and why it matters
- How to bring unspoken disappointment to God honestly
- What it looks like to stay faithful with open eyes instead of performed contentment
Live a poured-out life for Christ,
Jolene Engle
