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 that we read about in the 13
th chapter of First Corinthians. This is the love that 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. In the second place, 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 down beneath the ashes.
A resource that may help you accomplish this is Emerson Eggerich’s book and CD series Love and Respect (both of which are available through the ministry of Focus on the Family). Its message is based on Ephesians 5:33: “Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” This is the key 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. If you do this, 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. Without knowing more about your story we can’t even suggest as to how issues of this kind might be holding you back from loving your husband sincerely and unreservedly.
A trained Christian family therapist can help you sort all this out. That’s why we’d like to recommend that the two of you seek marriage counseling with a qualified professional. In particular, we’d suggest that you explore the option of intensive counseling, where extended sessions are used to deal with your struggles in a safe and non-threatening setting. Call us to get a list of counseling referrals in your area. Our Counseling department staff would count it a privilege to speak with you over the phone.
Resources
If a title is currently unavailable through Focus on the Family, we encourage you to use another retailer.
Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy
Developing a Deeper Connection With Your Spouse
Nurturing Affection in Your Marriage
Experiencing a Fulfilled Marriage
Referrals
Marriage Alive
Articles
Keeping Romance Alive
