Wife Never Really Loved Husband

I married my husband for pragmatic reasons. As a single mom, I believed he would make a great father to my child. Now I realize that I never really had romantic feelings for him. Is there hope for our relationship?

ANSWER:

The short answer to your question is yes: you can learn to love your husband with the only kind of love that really lasts – the agape love we read about in 1 Corinthians 13.

This love is patient and kind and does not envy; the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. It’s the love that never fails. Why do we say this? For two reasons.

First, in cultures where marriages are arranged, we know that couples often learn to love one another deeply despite the fact that their relationships were not originally based on romantic feelings.

Second, the agape love of the New Testament, unlike philia (friendship) or eros (sexual passion), is not primarily a matter of the emotions. It’s an act of the will.

This is not to say that feelings have no place in agape. They most certainly do. But in this case the feelings generally follow in the wake of intentional, deliberate actions. They grow out of commitment, perseverance, and hard work.

In your situation there’s even more reason for hope. Though you’re not sure how to make it happen, you want to fall in love with your husband – otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked your question in the first place. To put it another way, you’re dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to make a change. In a very real sense, then, you’ve already taken an important step in the right direction.

You can build on this foundation by asking yourself what it was that attracted you to your husband at the beginning of your relationship. At some level, the two of you felt an emotional connection, even if it was only because of the kindness he displayed toward your child. There was something about this man that led you to believe that life with him would be better than life without him.

That spark may have diminished with the passage of time, but it can still be found and fanned into flame if you’re willing to put forth the effort. You just have to take the time to dig beneath the ashes.

Consider Ephesians 5:33: “Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Love and respect are the keys to the growth of agape love in marriage. Even if you don’t have any romantic feelings for your husband, you can still treat him with the respect he deserves. When you do, you may be surprised by the results.

It’s always possible, of course, that there are other factors complicating your situation – unfinished business from the past, unresolved bitterness, unforgiveness, woundedness, resentment, or guilt. A trained Christian family therapist can help you sort through what might be holding you back from loving your husband sincerely and unreservedly.

That’s why we recommend the two of you attend marriage counseling with a qualified professional. In particular, we suggest you consider intensive marriage counseling. Extended sessions can help you deal with your struggles in a safe setting.

Call our professional and pastoral counselors for a free consultation at 1-855-771-HELP (4357). They’d be glad to talk with you, and they can give you referrals to trained therapists in your area.