Enter Drawing for Harboring Hope for Free

Welcome to Affair Recovery's Harboring Hope Monthly Drawing. We want to know you. We want to serve you. This means we want to hear from you!

The first step is telling us what we can do for you. Please tell us why you’d like to take Harboring Hope. If you made a comment prior to a previous registration period, that comment is still good for your entry.

Remember, submit a comment of 500 words or less about why you'd like to take the Harboring Hope course. Remember, it's a random drawing so your entry won't be based on merit or on your situation. Comments will be moderated by AR staff. Drawings will be held monthly. If you'd like more information, you can also read our official rules.


The winner for September 2026 was "jmu"
with the entry "Like so many couples, my…"
Congrats, jmu!

The winner for July 2026 was "SheG."
with the entry "I have been through multiple...."
Congrats, SheG!

The winner for June 2026 was "Christy G."
with the entry "I have been married for...."
Congrats, Christy G.!

The winner for May 2026 was "Sonia"
with the entry "Beginning Hope"
Congrats, Sonia!

The winner for April 2026 was "Katie001"
with the entry "9 month on it's still so painful"
Congrats, Katie!

The winner for March 20026 was "SweatyYetiNZ"
with the entry "Help from a world away".
Congrats, SweatyYetiNZ!

The winner for Feb. 2026 was "JudyAnn9"
with the entry "I see no hope..."
Congrats, JudyAnn9!

The winner for January 2026 was "SFKP"
with the entry "While Again".
Congrats, SFKP!

The winner for December 2025 was "Ken15"
with the entry "Just passed 1 year mark".
Congrats, Ken!


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I would highly recommend giving this a try.
 
-D, Texas
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Never in a million years. It’s a term that swirls daily in my mind. I hear it frequently from my husband. The past 22 years of my life and best friend now just a memory. All because he and a good friend of mine decided them having fun, had more value than my happiness. I am trying to work on it. I’d say we are, but I believe it was a “love addiction” affair, so he can’t seem to pull his mind away from it. It’s not been sexual since D day, but neither can seem to stop the contact. I cannot wrap my head around how two people can’t understand the emotional impact on another human being because of their actions. He chose to come home and yet his head lives in another world. It’s gut wrenching to say the least. Our poor children although I’ve protected them as much as possible from this small town nonsense have lost their happy mother who lived her life adoring their every move. Now just a shell of a human just trying to get up everyday. I dream of a day feeling respected and worth something again. Countless hours now researching the how’s, whys, what to do’s, but with no specialized services in our area to help work on my healing. It’s such a sad, lonely position to be in. My heart and world shattered. To all others out there in my position, I am so sorry for you all. This pain is excruciating. My heart goes out to you all.

I would like to take Harboring Hope because I think I am lacking just that ...hope.

It feels like an impossible situation - even though in my head I know nothing is impossible with God.

In our situation I prayed for my husband for two years to encounter the love of Father God to step more fully into being a son which would help him lead our family (my greatest heart desire). All the whole the Lord was working on me - He was asking me to submit and surrender my last name which I never did at our wedding 11 years prior because I was rejected by my husband's father and it just wasn't a huge deal to my husband. The Lord revealed the pain and fear that caused me to make that decision and He healed that and I changed my last name to my husband's. My husband laughed at first saying he never saw that coming but later said he did feel a shift unexpectedly. And actually I did too - it's like we finally became one.

Within a month my husband went on a backpacking trip with a ministry that brought people into Creation to encounter God. I knew this was going to be an answered prayer moment andy husband was going to be marked by God.

He was, and he did encounter the Father like never before, but he also met a woman on this trip who reminded him of me 10 years prior (a familiar spirit) and a snare was laid in front of my husband that he fell into. This woman never felt safe with a man before because of her trauma, and my husband loved the feeling of a savior role.

He came home immediately talking about her, including the fact that she had cheated on her husband before "because of her trauma" . All the red flags went up obviously and I said that he needed to stop talking to her in private - but he could talk to her on a group text with the other people on the trip. Well that set him off and he chose rebellion and he went into hidden texts, calls, etc.

I caught him and he was beyond upset and just called me a crazy triggered wife. He said he didn't want someone telling him what he could and couldn't do. Eventually a counseling friend got him to understand my heart, and the protection of our marriage. He begrudgingly agreed to end contact.

I immediately forgave him, trusted him, and we moved forward.

I thought we were doing well, we had picked up some new habits together of reading the Word together and discussing it as well as dreaming about the future. We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary where I catered everything to him to show him I honored and valued him and wanted to help him pursue his dreams.

Within two weeks he started treating me horribly seemingly out of the blue. He started saying crazy things to me he never had before that degraded me. He started looking at me like I was nothing to him. I would cry and he would just stand there looking at me angry. When I knew he had went back to talking to her and I brought it up he gaslighted me and called me crazy. He turned into a man I never knew prior.

After a month of this a male leader in the church called him out . He immediately denied it then went into defending it. Then it turned into him telling me he was never going to tell me, and that I ruined everything. When he was guided to end it again, he said he needed another month . When I requested to have his phone and other accesses he blew up and told me this was all my fault.

He ended it within a few days but he would only do it privately. He said it was none of my business. And he proceeded to treat me as if it was all my fault for the next two months.

It's been 5 months since then. We have tried a counselor and while it has helped in some ways it has not helped in my healing as I'm told things like, "he can't make you feel anything - you have a choice to feel angry - but that's about you not him ". I haven't been able to process many emotions and it's led to ambivalence.

I could use some hope ....

I have come to a place in my life in which I recognize I need something like Harboring Hope. Life no longer holds any meaning or hope for me. After a few short years after marriage I found myself betrayed by my wife whom I thought I knew. She had found AP's at her work place and pursued her new life while I labored to love and provide her with everything I thought she was desiring in life.

It is so difficult to write about this - I still feel numb and the pain in my mind and heart overcome my ability to even think rationally and convey my thoughts and feelings.

Something caused her to stray and she relished the attention of her co-workers and others and found them more desirable than I. After a years time she confessed to our pastors and then, with them, came to tell me. At the time, I somehow forgave her because I realized how much God had forgiven me and I was to do the same for others. It was difficult for a time but I became busy with life and tried not to let it bother me for the next 30 years.

After three children and 30 years of family memories something happened in my life and all the events leading up the affairs came rushing back into my life. In addition, I found out she had remained "friends" with these AP's via social media and texting. I completely broke down this time and lost everything I had known as life. I sought numerous professional therapy/counselors and Pastoral counsel with no help whatsoever - they didn't have a clue as to how to help. I did recognize I (we) had never grieved or worked through the events 30 years before.

When I found AR and Harboring for Hope, I realized this might be what I need to help me. The pain of infidelity is like nothing I have ever known and I don't know where else to turn. It's been almost two years now, trying to work through this, but nothing has gotten better. The intrusive thoughts plague me daily. My personal faith has been severely damaged and I struggle with it now instead of turning to my faith in God. I have come to the place that either divorce or dying is my ticket out. I don't think divorce would even help since the memories and thoughts are still there.

I grieve and weep with those who have to walk through this. I don't know how some have been able to come out onto the other side of this.

In my heart and my mind I have doubts to ever be free from this, but maybe Harboring Hope is the key........

My husband had an affair 30 years ago. Yes, 30 years ago. It lasted, supposedly, for 3 weeks. He ended it and came back home. He told me very little about the affair. But, because I wanted him to come back to me so badly, I didn’t say too much or ask much about it. When I did ask questions, I was given very little information, only a first name and where she worked.
We fought about it for a few years and then I litterally blocked it from my mind and went about our lives as normal. We raised two daughters together and stayed mostly happily married.
Recently, a picture of her surfaced on my Facebook newsfeed. When I saw the name attached to the picture, and a mutual friend had reposted this pic, I immediately thought, could this be her? I showed the picture to my husband, and he said “possibly”. I knew it was her and it is. For the last six month, since I have seen her picture and went down rabbit hole and found out all I could, I have been extremely angry. It feels like it just happened and it has been 30 years. I am commented by images and thoughts and my anxiety is so high most of the time. I am miserable and I am making my husband miserable.
We don’t know what to do. I am stuck in this crazy weird feeling of jealousy, anger, and comparison mode. I need help before I drive my husband completely away or I drive myself crazy with these thoughts and feelings.

It feels very isolated being the betrayed. There are not many people I want and am comfortable talking to about how I’m dealing and processing the aftermath of an affair. And those that I am I feel I am overwhelming and exhausting them. I feel the need to process everyday. I also can’t spend endless money to talk to a counselor all the time about it. I think having a group dedicated to processing and working through this. Where I didn’t have to feel a burden of the emotional weight of my situation would be freeing. I am trying to figure out my nexts steps. How to move forward and what the looks like. I’m trying to navigate my relationship with my spouse. I want to streamline and “microwave” the process. I want to intensely deal with everything and then move forward knowing what outcome I’m striving towards. It feels like a full time job to heal from this. If I had a network and outlet to feel connected to in this I think it would help. I’ve seen the courses. I’ve watch the hope rising. I’ve debated the ems weekends. My spouse has asked me to do a 13 week course together. I’m not ready to make that commitment right now. I’m not ready to make any commitments right now. Unfortunately the nature of the infidelity has made it widespread almost “public knowledge” in our circles. Which makes it that much more challenging for me. The weight of my decision isn’t light. But I do know know what choice is right. I want to make a smart responsible healthy choice for myself and for both of us. We’re in our 20s. No kids, no property we own together. By the worlds standards it would be a fairly easy “clean break” to leave. But also this is going on year 9 that we’ve been together. Almost a decade. I have been just myself for my entire adult life. I don’t want to start married just to stay married. And I don’t want to leave to make things “easy”. I want to have a clear sense and a clear calling and peace about how I’m moving forward and what I’m pursuing. I don’t know if I have to heal in order to do that. I don’t know the steps. I am determined not to become a victim. Not to become bitter. Not to be come vengeful or resentful. Not to be influenced by other peoples opinions. Not to weaponized ot be manipulated by someone’s understanding of faith. I am seeking clarity on what is healthy safe and responsible. And I think talking to other who have been through the same is going to help me with that. I wish I could pause life for everyone else until I figure out what I need to do. Life goes on for kids, friends, family, communities, at work. Life goes on. And how do I answer the simple daily questions of what’s going on when I feel like I don’t know myself? I want to make sure I don’t skip grief or skip steps I need to heal that will hire me in the butt in pursuit of having this all figured out as quickly as I can. I feel like I’m slowly being absorbed my quicksand of doubts of what to do.

Unfortunately, my story is a familiar one. I’m currently in a second marriage and have experienced infidelity again. My first marriage of 14 years, I had two beautiful children. My spouse was unfaithful several times which I forgave until the final time when he had an affair with a teacher at my children’s school, running buddy of ours and friend. I was crushed. We tried marriage counseling but nothing could repair the hurt and brokenness. He would not give her up. I tried to heal, moved on. I was hopeful, found new love, married again and we had a beautiful daughter, my third child, his first. The blended family was a challenge. This time I was determined to do it right. We’ve been married for nearly 16 years. On our 15 year anniversary he was having an affair. Things started to fall apart. I recognize every marriage has its struggles. We both had very demanding jobs and experienced life challenges of caring for parents that were sick. When he didn’t come home one night, we immediately began counseling. When the truth came out, the blaming started that I had done everything wrong, and how he had been trying to tell me all along. I thought I always took care of the family, the bills, the home, and trusted him but was now feeling I did it wrong again. I’m left, confused and hurt and feeling like a failure. I feel like I’ve let down two families. My struggle is healing and understanding. He has moved out and said he needs time to fix himself before he can work on the marriage. My family and friends told me he will never come back or change and tell me he is dishonest, manipulative and controlling but still support the marriage if they see it becoming healthy. I filed for divorce because he can’t look at me and is completely shutting down. I feel alone. I am ready to let him go but he continues to pull me back in. I am stuck on an emotional rollercoaster. I recently was laid off from a job of nearly 18 years years. I turned down a transfer at his request because the move would have put distance between him and my daughter and he said put a strain in their relationship. I am searching for strength, understanding, healing how to navigate and pick up the pieces to move forward with grace. I have my faith and family but struggle with forgiving myself.

I've been married for nearly 29 years, anniversary in May, and in December I realized my husband has had an attraction or emotional affair with his coworker. For months I had a suspicion as he would talk about her often and point out things she ate while at the store. He has denied it repeatedly and now gets upset when I bring it up or ask for more clarification. We saw a marriage counselor once but since our insurance doesn't cover it we were concerned about the price and my husband didn't like the counselor even though he chose him. I am now getting my own counseling but I can't move forward. I did ask my husband to quit the job since it was only a part time post retirement gig and that has helped but since he quit he is no longer able to have intercourse. He now loses erections. Part of my initial red flags that he was attracted to her was his sudden interest in sex, he normally initiated a few times a month, now he was initiating a few times a week and mid day when he came home from work and now he longer needed medication to obtain an erection.We had not had mid day sex or sex without his medication for nearly all of 2023. I'm feeling betrayed,lost and confused. The more questions I ask or the more clarification I seek he gets defensive. Not sure where to go from here...

I'm in a battle, Fighting for my marriage. The evil one is threatened by the love my husband and I have for each other and the love we have for Christ. So he's thrown deep dark daggers at us and we're under attack. I will not allow this to break us. This is my attempt to fight by Harboring hope for the both of us. Our Marriage is worth it.

Today is 3 weeks since D-Day and I want more for myself, for my wife, and for my children.

Winning the opportunity to participate in the Harbouring Hope course is paramount to my healing journey, as the trauma of my husband's affair in 2022 continues to haunt me. Despite the passage of time, I find myself unable to move forward, hindered by his reluctance to seek professional help and his avoidant attachment style.

The affair, lasting six agonizing months, struck a devastating blow, further exacerbated by the fact that it was with a close friend of mine. The pain is magnified by her presence in our neighborhood, where our children attend the same school, and our mutual friends often discuss her. Her lack of remorse or apology serves as a constant reminder of the betrayal I endured.

What's particularly distressing is my husband's inability to express genuine remorse. While he claims to feel sorry, his words lack sincerity, and his body language fails to reflect any true regret. Even a year after the affair came to light, his attempt to contact her under the guise of seeking closure only added to my anguish. His actions betray his professed commitment to our family, leaving me grappling with intense emotions and PTSD.

His failure to share his feelings or show emotions further compounds the struggle. As I navigate this emotional minefield alone, I find myself desperately seeking help to survive the overwhelming turmoil that engulfs me.

Participating in the Harbouring Hope course offers a glimmer of hope in the darkness. It promises a supportive community and invaluable resources to aid in my journey toward healing. Through the course, I hope to gain insights into managing my emotions, overcoming trauma, and rebuilding trust in myself and others.

More than just a chance to heal, winning this opportunity represents a lifeline—a chance to reclaim my sense of self and rebuild a future free from the shadows of betrayal. With the support and guidance offered by Harbouring Hope, I believe that I can emerge from this ordeal stronger and more resilient than ever before.

In the face of immense pain and uncertainty, winning this draw would not only be a blessing but a crucial step toward reclaiming my life and finding peace amidst the chaos.

After over 4 years I am still struggling with trying to find myself again. The triggers, the constant thoughts, do I stay or do I go, I've read and listened to it all but I need group support and guidance. I have no one to talk to about this or I get the response of, "just move on". I would if I could!! I am hoping that if I can get the strength I need through this course, I will be alright and ready to make a decision. I need to detach myself from my spouse, bad habits to avoid the pain and non-communication about what happened between us. I cannot wait any longer for him to get help or help me heal. I just don't see it happening. So, I hope my name will be drawn and I can truly begin a course of self-care, healing and find me again. :)

I’m glad to have found this resource and hope to be able to take part in the Harboring Hope.

Betrayal in any form is a deeply traumatic experience, one that cuts to the core of trust and security in relationships. When that betrayal comes from within the sanctity of marriage and involves individuals closely intertwined in one's personal and professional life, the impact can be devastating, reverberating through every aspect of one's existence. As someone who has weathered the storm of a 19-year marriage only to discover a profound breach of trust through a four-year affair between my husband and a friend and coworker, I find myself drawn to the Harboring Hope program as a beacon of hope and healing in the aftermath of such profound betrayal.

The nature of the betrayal I have endured is multifaceted, intertwining personal, spiritual and professional spheres in ways I could have never imagined. Our shared involvement in a local church, where both my husband and I, along with the other woman, held positions of leadership and responsibility, adds layers of complexity to the pain. Not only did this betrayal shatter the foundation of trust within my marriage, but it also tainted the communal trust and integrity of the religious community we served. The fact that both the woman involved and her husband, a fellow pastor and friend, were deeply entrenched in our social and professional circles only exacerbates the feelings of betrayal and disillusionment.

The Harboring Hope program offers a unique opportunity for betrayed partners like myself to navigate the tumultuous waters of healing and recovery in a supportive and understanding environment. One of the program's key strengths lies in its acknowledgment of the multifaceted nature of betrayal trauma, recognizing that it extends beyond the boundaries of the marital relationship to impact every facet of one's life. By providing a structured framework for processing emotions, rebuilding self-esteem, and reestablishing boundaries, Harboring Hope equips participants with the tools they need to navigate the complex landscape of post-betrayal healing.

Furthermore, the program's emphasis on understanding the root causes of betrayal and trauma speaks directly to my own experiences. As someone who has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of unresolved trauma and enmeshment in my husband's upbringing, I am acutely aware of the interconnectedness of personal history and relational dynamics. Harboring Hope's holistic approach to healing acknowledges the importance of addressing these underlying issues in order to break the cycle of betrayal and forge a path toward genuine reconciliation and healing for myself, my marriage, and the health of our two children.

Moreover, the sense of community and solidarity fostered within the Harboring Hope program is invaluable in my journey toward healing with the disenfranchisement of my spiritual family. Finding oneself among a group of individuals who have walked a similar path of pain and betrayal can be incredibly validating and empowering. The opportunity to share experiences, offer support, and receive guidance from others who truly understand the depth of one's pain is a source of strength and comfort that cannot be overstated.

In conclusion, the decision to embark on the Harboring Hope program represents a profound step toward reclaiming agency and autonomy in the wake of profound betrayal. By providing a structured framework for healing, addressing underlying trauma, and fostering a sense of community and solidarity, Harboring Hope offers a beacon of hope in the darkness of betrayal, guiding betrayed partners toward a future defined by resilience, healing, and ultimately, renewed hope for the possibility of genuine reconciliation and redemption.

My H confessed to a 3.5 year affair in December of 2023. Like most this flabbergasted me and rocked me to my core. We had been married 24 years and have 4 children and are high school sweethearts. The affair lasted through our oldest daughters college graduation, our oldest sons high school graduation, and our oldest daughters wedding as well as my beloved grandmothers suicide. So much lost time and tainted memories. We are healing g together, but I could use help.

I keep erasing my comment over and over again. I feel unworthy of the opportunity to go through this course. I feel there are so many others deserving of this. My situation is like many others. I was lied to; I was in the dark. My safe place became my scary place. I am wanting to take this course because I am seeking a beacon of hope. I need that draw to stay. More things and people are telling me to leave. I am scared to leave. I want my family. I believe God wants us to stay a family unit. My boys need their dad. I want to learn the tools necessary to rebuild this rather than restore this. I don't want the marriage we once had. I want to be made knew. My husband is signed up for the betrayer program so I would love the opportunity to take the betrayed course.

Whoever is granted the harboring hope course for free, I pray it gives you that beacon of hope we are all longing for <3

I would love to win a space at Harbouring Hope as I am in absolute turmoil after finding out my husband has had an affair for the past 7 years (we’ve been married 12 years). My instinct told me all along something was going on but my heart didn’t want to see it. The AP bought it to my door and has been relentless since. She thought I’d kick him out and they’d skip off in to the sunset. He says he wants to make it work with me but how do I move from knowing they went on holiday together while I was having a mental health crisis back home with 3 kids? Or that they have slept together? Or that they have shared such an intimate secret? I have 3 beautiful kids including 1 disabled and I am struggling to show up as a good mother as I am plagued with intrusive thoughts which I struggle to not act upon. I am so desperate to move from this place for myself and in turn my marriage and my family.

I am searching for help for me I would like to get through all this pain that was caused and I know it takes time and support from others to get through on the others side of being healthy. I would like to learn how to get past this paralyzed feeling of what is truth and what is made up in my head. I would like to be free again, not stuck in this prison of wounds.

A few years ago, i was at my very lowest place in life. My wife (of 20+ years) and I were still trying to recover from her first (known) affair.
I had suffered a bad knee injury that, despite all the meds, had me in constant pain for months, and was preventing me from living any semblance of a normal life. The plant i worked at was going through downsizing efforts, so I knew i was in a dangerous place with me being physically compromised. When i finally decided i couldnt take it anymore and was going in for surgery, I found out my dad was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, so i had to leave town to take care of him.

When i needed her the most, when i was at my most vulnerable on every level, this is when my wife took advantage of the opportunity and decided to have her second affair, and with someone I thought was my friend (hell, i even introduced them to each other). She would leave our young kids at home alone, and sneak out almost every night, night after night, to meet up with him, go on dates, have dinners, go to the theatre, get drunk together, and of course have sex repeatedly, all while i was watching my father dying in front of my eyes, as I shuttled him between doctors and lawyers appointments.

This is more than just making amends or rebuilding trust or dealing with the anger. This now puts into serious question, who she is at her core, her moral fiber, her heart. Is this a person that is even worthy of being in a marriage with? I really dont even know how to answer that question.

3 years ago this month, I discovered 9000 minutes of cell phone calls made on my husband's account to one particular number. When I questioned it, the lies began. I was told I was wrong, led to believe I was crazy, and made to feel unworthy of my husband's love and affection. Not long after that, "the other woman" left her husband and fled to our area. Things unfolded, loved blossomed between her and my husband, and they began to explore sexuality with each other via phone, messenger, text, email, etc. I kept questioning, and kept getting gaslighted. Eventually, with enough hard evidence, my husband confessed to being in love with this MUCH YOUNGER woman. Our Christian marriage and his 25 years of ministry seemed like a complete sham. We are trying to put the pieces back together and rebuild trust, but I am also so broken, so confused, so hurt...just completely devastated. So, I'm looking for hope and begging God to answer my prayers.

My life has crumbled!
I can’t function I can only do bare minimum to breathe through the day.
I’m CPTSD and on medications to keep from panic attacks.
It started with one trauma after another, I couldn’t even get up before I was knocked down again. I’ve lost myself!
It started with my 3 year old son dying in my arms, taking him off life support for his last heartbeat in my arms due to Covid-19 causing brain death. Then my only aunt my second mom dying, then my husband’s father dying and going out of state for my father in law funeral with my husband and three kids. My husband went into psychosis during the trip and it was crazy in a car with my 3 children trying to drive back up the east coast with my husband in delusions and throwing stuff out the window, talking to himself, all with kids right there stuck in a car out of state. All I could do was drive to my moms to get my kids to grandma’s house. So I could try to get my husband to the mental ward. I got my kids to grandmas house and safe and my husband did not because of being delusional want to willing go in, he started getting mean and dangerous. Sitting in the hospital parking lot with he decides to tell me of 3 affairs and a porn addiction through our 15 year marriage and not using condoms. He told me in this exact way. “ yea, I hit that, and I fucked the bitch at Walgreens in the break room twice and I fucked the bitch a capital one, I was bored and wanted to have fun, it’s not all about you Samantha”. He had been flirting with women at every job he had sending messages and emails through company computers and in face. Sleeping with coworkers, gaslighting me, lying, putting my life at risk with no condoms and now I have incurable STD because of it. I didn’t even know I had, blood work confirmed it!!! I full of so much pain and rage!!! My son is gone and my whole marriage was an illusion and I have a disease too!!! WTF… I can’t breathe,,, I can’t clean my house, I can’t make dinner. I’m dying inside and alone… this all started 8 months ago may 2023… I need help for my children to have a mom back and for me to get myself back.. so I can make my beautiful son who has passed on proud of his mom!! I want to make him proud..

Alumnus. Unfaithful- Its been 2 years and a long road. However, through every trial, we have made it through. It has not been an easy journey and it is far from over. I am blessed with an amazing partner and she is my rock.
The best advice I can give anyone is this:
1. Be absolutely truthful during the disclosure portion of your journey. I was not and thought it would just "go away". Hint: it didn't and she found out. This caused us to start from square one. It was absolutely horrible.
2. Please utilize the resources this program provides. Everyone has been amazing and really helpful. Their caring is genuine.
3. Choose your words carefully and be respectful. NEVER say, "Can't we just move on?!" Note: I have never uttered these words. But remind myself everyday. Forgiveness and trust is wonderful however, it must be earned. I know what I'm capable of and never want to be that person again.
Trust in the journey. Believe me when I say, "There is a light on the horizon. There will never be an end of the tunnel but my journey is with my best friend. My wife. Through this process, we have made life-long friends. God has truly blessed us. Thank you Rick and team!

My D-Day was a month ago…I actually had a dream a couple of days prior, a nightmare, I looked down at my wedding ring and it was shattered into pieces. I had “suspected” but never got the whole truth from my husband. He also had a problem of going out drinking and not coming home until 2-3-4 am while I was up praying and worrying about him.

The night before he confessed I had a panic attack, was writing in my journal and had, like many times before this feeling in my gut that he was or had cheated on me but always thought it was the “enemy” trying to break up my marriage. I shared my anguish with my spouse and got a very cold response. The next day, we sat as a family, we have two kids, and talked about our daughter’s birthday. After dinner I sat at the table and that feeling came on again, I confronted him again, but first sharing that I had been reading a book about what to do when you feel like leaving your spouse. He then said it, “i have been unfaithful”. My whole world and my biggest fear had come true. I asked with who, how many, and then he responded with five women…i kept on repeating the number, FIVE, FIVE, and then I lost it. I started grabbing the drink glasses and throwing them on the floor. I took off my wedding ring and handed it to him, saying it was worth nothing now. I left the house, my heart destroyed and broken. I had no one to go to, no where to go but I had to leave the house.

I remembered a wonderful couple that have a marriage course (which we had taken and renewed our vows the year before with) and I called them. They received me in their house and for over a week, I cried, screamed, was in shock…my husband was the only man I had ever been with, and when we got married I was his only partner. That was something I cherished, our intimacy that we shared, that is very rare.

We met very young and he now (a month later) is saying that he needed to have more girlfriends and live more before he married me. That he was pushed into marrying me and that he doesn't even know if he really loved me. I am devastated and at the same time heartbroken as I drive around the city I live…full of strip clubs and hourly paying hotels that people can drive into to hide their cars.

I would like to join the harboring hope program because I want to heal my wounds and have wholeness in my heart. I know that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy and he is trying very hard to break up our marriage… I will not let him take my hope for my healing and restoration and I do sincerely hope that my husband can find and accept help, and fully repent of his sin before God. I was not a perfect wife, and I am also a sinner, I feel ashamed at even wanting to try to restore my marriage, but something inside of me, and God continues to speak restoration over me and my family. I will believe His word and what he paid for on the cross. This is so hard.

I had just celebrated our 25th anniversary and I found out 8 months ago that my husband had been in a 3 year affair with one of his employees. He ended it two years ago, but was still working with her. He got a new job and just moved out this week for a second time to give some space and is finding a new counselor to work with, but my kids are really struggling through this. I have felt stuck in the trauma of all this, almost just in a frozen state, paralyzed. I am just now starting to be able to have really feelings and emotions erupt. I need to get the help so I can be strong for my kids and hopefully eventually reconcile if that’s what is meant to happen.

For the past 4 1/2 months, I’ve cried every day. I’m ready to smile again with or without my husband

This site has been so valuable. In the journey I have encountered counselors that did not help and actually harmed my/our recovery. It is my hope that this resource will continue me on a path to healing in a journey that is almost impossible to navigate. Also that betrayal trauma is not recognized in the medical community but actually causes so many physical manifestations. These go unrecognized by traditional medical doctors because question are not asked and marital/relationship problems are recognized as "normal'. Thank you for having this resource for direction for so many.

It's been four years now since D-day.
I am still triggered by so many things, almost daily. After some initial marital counselling my wife became resistant to working on things, and the last relational conversation we had two ago consisted of: "I never really loved you", "stop saying you love me", "I kissed him just the other day", "don't call me honey", "we need to move back to (our home state) or I and the kids will go without you".
We now moved back. Two years now. I have no support system. I go through the motions, trying to make our and my life the best I can. I am otherwise pretty mentally healthy, I think.
Everything is cordial and functional, but I am paralysed in a state of limbo. I don't know how to change the status quo because I am not healthy myself. I hope one day I have the strength and finances to seek help to recover my sanity, before it's too late.

Every month I read this email and think maybe I should…and then I don’t. I’m not sure I want to take the course, but I am sure I don’t like where I’m at. It’s been a little over 2 years since I learned the full extent of my husbands choices. I have read more in the past 2 years than the rest of my life! I’m in a better place than I was and I have learned a lot. But, I always come back to what I know about myself - I don’t want to move forward with a person who would/could/did do this to me. I also know at my age, with grown children, grandchildren and over 40 years in this marriage, that I’m not going to throw everyone’s life into chaos. Many days I feel like I can get through this, some days not. I’ll keep reading and learning and hope the answers become more clear.

In reply to by 80t

I have been married 33 years and found out about the affair 30!years ago. I never knew who she was, but recently found out accidentally by seeing a picture of her posted by a mutual forms of hers and the pieces just fell together in my mind and it is her. I have been extremely angry all over again. I can’t seem to shake it off this time. Please get help unlike I did , but I am going to try and take the courses to see if it can help me.

I'm 9 weeks from DDay. I want to save this marriage. I was an emotionally absent husband for 13 years. This wonderful woman put up with me for 13 years before she lost hope and found it in the arms of another man. Now both our lives have been blown apart. She's ambivalent and doesn't know if she wants the marriage. We've both inflicted wounds on one another. We owe a debt to each other to heal those wounds. I want to get myself right so I can help her, then together we can move forward into the light.

I've been married for 7 1/2 years, our second marriages, with a blended family of 5 kids and now 6 grandkids. I found out that my wife was having an affair September 6, 2023. She told me they'd become best friends over the summer, but that it hadn't been physical. There were signs, I'd questioned it, but she denied as expected. I found an e-mail that showed it was more. She gave me a partial confession initially, then eventually cried because she'd "had an affair" - believing in her mind that that was enough of a confession to know it was more than she'd said. Their relationship continued for another two months after the initial DDay- openly in front of me as I struggled to save our relationship and marriage. I started considering the affair as the end of our marriage - she wouldn't get out of it and she couldn't decide what she wanted. I would say we've had several partial D-Days from September through mid-November, although I still don't have the nearly the whole truth. I know it was emotional, then physical - and know it was to the point she was going to divorce me to move on with him back in September. The affair has ended, we moved for her to take a new job, and we're rebuilding our marriage. But I am the one searching for answers, direction on how to heal - the pain and so many emotions are still raw and so real. Right now she wants nothing more than to forget, move on, and work towards the future. Some positives for our marriage, but I'm working through the pain and heartache on my own for now. I've never told a soul about the affair she had - trying to learn to heal alone. Don't know where I am, where I need to be, or even how to get there.

Looking for support after ongoing issues

I would like to take the Harboring Hope course because I am struggling to know what my reality is and desperately want to see my situation clearly.

It has been nine months since my husband told me what was happening. At the time, I was determined to make our marriage work and trusted that working away from home for a long time and the disconnection it caused was why this happened. But now, I just can't turn my brain off. I think about it all the time and wonder if I really am good enough or what he wants in a wife. The love we have for each other has always been a certainty for me. I never questioned it in the 13 years we've been together. But now I wonder all the time who I'm really married to and if he really loves me.
I want to take Harboring Hope so I can gain clarity, not only for my situation but for my self confidence as well.

So here I am, a ball of mess. D-Day was Friday October 13th, 2023. I had my suspicions that something was going on as my husband of 2.5 years started acting strange. We were going through a lot the fall of 2022 with impending IRS issues from his business owing taxes in 2015, the passing of his father, and I was in the throws of my father in hospice with dementia and hubby was having problems in the bedroom. I also was in graduate school, dealing with my own trauma of past sexual abuse and an awful internship. Our marriage was struggling and he was traveling a lot for work.

Fast forward to this summer and fall of 2023, as my husband was being difficult and angered quickly when I tried asking questions or talking about issues on anything. He started a new job involving travel through Ohio where he was meeting up with an old girlfriend he met after his first divorce. He took her to Niagara Falls, they were talking engagement, and texting and calling each other. When he was home he was distant, angry, and defensive when I started to see the red flags of cheating. I checked phone records as he was hiding his phone from me. I saw a common number and started calling. I asked him about the number and he said nothing. I asked for a separation if he couldn't be trusted and accused him of having an affair. He broke it off with her, she called and revealed everything, as she didn't know he was married or living in Florida!

The other woman and I talked for a while and kept in touch as she was grieving the loss of being taken by a married man and I was shocked. He confessed everything and has repented, and asked for forgiveness, and now I am left grieving the loss of us and trust. They were on and off again, seeing each other often but she was also catching on to him as he never intended to get engaged as he was already married! How can I trust him ever again? I already lost my first marriage of 24 years to infidelity. He left and married the other woman. I healed and moved on but having this happened has reopened the deep wound and I am depressed and lost. I felt like there was something wrong with me.

We are both Christians and I am struggling some days. We left a second church as it wasn't a good fit for us due to some choices we don't agree biblically with and think we have found another church, praying for group support. So I am grieving my past church loss of friends and groups. We tried counseling and it made things worse for me. Maybe not the right time for us. I realize now I need to work on myself and not control him and what he needs to do. I am still full of anger and hatred and I have forgiven him over and over.

I have never experienced so much pain as infidelity from someone I trusted that could lie and manipulate a whole other life for the past two years as they were on and off since they were first together communication the past 5 years. How can a man do that to his spouse? Over and over? Lie to two women? He is at peace and has seen my anger and pain. He is getting tired of my mood swings. I have sought counseling for myself and read God's word daily. I put my trust in Him always, just tired of being tired. Tired of the pain and deceit my husband has put me through. He is trying but when will I know to trust him again? I know it takes time. I just want to run away some days. I feel trapped.

This group is what I desperately need but cannot afford as I am in grad school and he works to help make ends meet. We are still loving together and have some good moments. I need to be around people who are walking this same path.

No matter how I turn this in my heart and in my head. No matter the outcome of my marriage. The only real impact the only real option for me is to go deeper in my understand of myself and free myself from the hurt, with the guidance of God, my only compass.
I constantly slip into self loathing, past the free flowing of all my emotions and feelings. And while I must go through it all to get to the other side, I must remember daily that he can control my life not my husband’s.
I hope harboring hope would be a platform to practice this daily in a safe structure with others who can empathize with this trying season. The most trying, the hardest.
I want resolution and closure for me. And while it is ok to pray that my marriage would be restore, I also hope that I can accept the fact that I have no control at all.

We attended EMS Weekend in December. The men in our group have stayed connected and regularly communicate and offer encouragement and support to one another. Our women’s group occasionally texts and discuss general life events, like kids, vacations, etc. I would like to feel more connected to a group where we can listen and support each other. I also feel I could use more support around healing.

We attended EMS Weekend in December. The men in our group have stayed connected and regularly communicate and offer encouragement and support to one another. Our women’s group occasionally texts and discuss general life events, like kids, vacations, etc. I would like to feel more connected to a group where we can listen and support each other. I also feel I could use more support around healing.

My husband has cheated on me for 18 years with varying intensity. Recently he has been told that he has a sex and love addiction. To me, an actual medical disorder could potentially be the only way to explain the cruelty and complete lack of empathy he has shown for 2 decades. I never knew anything "cold" like this could be possible. I have found out about different affair partners and near-affair partners, on multiple occasions over several years. One after the other. He still kept on to every remaining secret until the bitter end, until I found out about the next one, the next one, the next one. I still have a hard time breathing, even though I have not made any new disclosures since March 2023. The pain is just excruciating. On two occasions I have had suicidal thoughts and near situations. Today marks a new year and I only see darkness ahead of me. There are no words to describe the grief, the humiliation, the surreal feelings that I experience.

He has thrown 24 years in my face. God, I have never been truly faithful. But I’ve always known you. Please help me heal. Our vows mean something, but if he needs to be without me so be it. Regardless, I have to heal. I’m doing what I can, but I need some guidance. More than anything he needs you. Keep him safe.

Hi there
My friends who have been through infidelity told me about your website.
We're from South Africa. My husband has had multiple affairs with married women I know, in the 21 years we have been married. I've only found out now, 8 days ago. He told me all after being discovered by someone with the most recent affair in October.

We are Christians and active leaders in our church, we run marriage courses, counsel couples in marriage, lead a small group, and I am a preacher and lead a ministry into the prisons etc etc.
We have 4 children from 14 to 19 who love Jesus and I homeschool them.

He is remorseful and wants to repair, he is willing to do anything, we are seeing a Christian couple who have been through an affair and he is going for deliverance next week.
But I just don't know how to go on. I can't stop the images, thoughts, hate, questions, death etc but at the same time a deep underlying knowledge that I won't leave him. I won't break the Covenant I made.

We have only told our lead elders, the other couple who are helping us and my sister and her husband.

I'm asking advice on who to tell in the church.. What happens there? I feel ashamed. I feel I failed. I feel fake. How can I ever be in ministry again?

Also we don't know about telling our kids.. We are confused. Are they too young? .. 14 and 16 girls, 18 and 19 boys. Should we tell them now or later? Or just the eldest son who is strong in God?
What will it do to them? Of all my worst things to ever happen to any marriage and any children- it is this. I can't believe it happened to me. I can't bear the pain. I don't know how to go on. I even felt envy towards a beautiful woman who died today of cancer, she is with Jesus in heaven. That was hard.

I have so appreciated the resources I've already read on your website. Thank you. I know the truth of God's promises and I believe them, it's just practically how to go on.

We'd love to do any of your courses. We need to get through this - better but we need help.
Unfortunately due to the nature of our South African Rand to the US dollar, the cost is very expensive for us and we don't have that kind of money.

Thank you
Regards
Cath

I am the betrayed spouse in this situation. I found out about a month ago that my wife was having an affair over the past year with a photographer that she had back at that point. Long story short they did multiple boudoir shoots and eventually led to a point where they became business partners. During this time the affair was going on, this person has been to my home, been with my family, and even talked to me face to face and I had no clue. Then a month ago came and he broke the truth to me which I in turn confronted my wife who denied at first but then broke and told the truth. I was devastated, then a few days later more information came out about another sexual affair with another person a couple years back that I had no clue about either. All while this "business partner" is harassing us, taking us to small claims court, and just trying everything in his power to ruin us. I never thought I could get so low emotionally, I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, everything seems bleak. Even today there are many days that are hard and many days where everything feels lost. I found some hope when discovering this site and I am truly grateful for all the resources so far.

After going through all of the hard work and spending thousands of dollars on counseling last year to restore our marriage after D-Day #1, I found out last month that my husband was acting out again. D-Day #2 has destroyed me. I'm numb and I have no earthly clue where to go from here. I feel like a ship without a sail. Last time I didn't find a group that understood what I was going through. This time I know I need people to walk alongside me who truly understand. Harboring Hope is the sail I need to start moving forward.

I have decided to remain in the marriage. My husband and I have been together 11 years and married for 6 of those. His betrayal was extreme. I have uncovered that he has paid for sex with at least 5 escorts in the last 4 months. I know there are probably more. He has begrudgingly admitted to these. I discovered the affairs and he minimized and deflected them. He made excuses. When he could no longer lie his way out, I put him out. He began to threaten suicide. I don't know why I'm staying. Am I codependent or simply out of my mind? He claims he can't talk to me about the affairs because he is embarrassed. He gets defensive if I ask to see his phone. He absolutely refused to location share with me. I need this course to allow me to actually look at the situation with a clear head.

June 28, 2023--Husband, me and 12 and 9 year old kids are outside. I asked my husband to let me see his phone so I could Google something. He walked away from me, texting like crazy. I said something again. When he handed me the phone, a text from a co-worker of his popped up and said "OK". He had told her to wait and they could continue later I guess. Two people who had never had an unkind word were suddenly in a nightmare. He turned on me. Named some things that I do wrong like vacation planning and big family meals. He used language I could not believe came out of his mouth. Aimed at me. Similar to calling a woman the *c word. He was equally to blame for all the things he tried to pawn off on me. His job caused him to come home late and the kids slept with me. And he was tickled to get to sleep alone in a King bed all to himself. But the distance and "lack of communication" was my fault. I played around or worked on a computer, he played on an Oculus or slept, the kids did their things and we were all in the same room. He began walking 5mph for 45 min every morning, getting up at 4am. Looking back, I think the trim down was for her. Then I had to deal with him asleep in the recliner when it was family time. He has fallen from the skies in my eyes. I'm 50 and he is 49. I have seen his selfishness, immaturity, pettiness, portray me untruly to our therapist and his mom, and generally just keep lying because of his pride or shame or anger even. I truly believe that he resents me breaking them up. He did take a polygraph and he had not had any physical/ sexual contact with her. It was an emotional affair and no one will ever convince me that those betrayals are not equally painful. I discovered the word Limerance. I hate it. It fit them to a tee. I asked him if he would still be texting her had he not been caught..."I don't know." This is also the JACKASS who tweeted scripture pics every morning. This has just destroyed me. I look forward to hearing your guidance.

1 year since D Day #3. I am in so much pain and can't seem to move forward. I think it's time to move on from someone who clearly does not respect me or our marriage. I need help and would love to be part of this program.

It’s been over a year since I discovered my husband's porn and sex addiction. Over the course of most of our 4 year marriage, (Entirely through my pregnancy) he carried on an emotional affair with a mutual “friend,” exchanged sexual messages and photos with multiple women, viewed many various types of pornography , nothing illegal but increasingly disturbing as he got deeper, and treated me with hatred and disdain. On d day, I felt relief in finally getting to the bottom of his mistreated and he was relieved to be caught. However, recovery for us both has been a long road. He’s been to an intensive retreat and I’m
In therapy but I know temptation is everywhere and he has to do his own work. I personally am at a much better place than one year ago, but I am still very much affected by anxiety, worry, preoccupation wondering if he’s slipped, and intrusive thoughts still seem to pop in during intimacy occasionally , during a good day, or when I experience triggers. It’s much less but I just want to be well again. I just want to be myself again.

I discovered my partner's affair nearly a week ago. Since then, a whirlwind of emotion has gripped me. She had sought out an overseas ex-boyfriend on social media in September. As their emotional affair grew, so to did the distance and isolation from me. I had known of her depression, and assumed she was having a low point, but despite my asking her to communicate with me, she was a wall. Barely making eye contact. Living on her phone. She had a trip to his country coming up.

Just before her trip, I had noticed a collection of sex products spilling out of a little black bag in her suitcase. When confronted, she claimed it was all a mistake. She meant to order other products, etc. But by this point she already tried to tell me she no longer loved me and was trying to coax us into taking a break, without outside attention. I felt deceived. I was suspicious. I was on alert. She removed all the products except for one flavored wipe. The day after our son's 12th birthday, I had gone to check my email and noticed her account logged in on my computer and my curiosity got the better of me. I discovered the email to her ex, the lies within, and a collection of secrets that broke me. So I confronted her the morning of her trip. Our son heard us fighting. As the situation unraveled and the family began to fall apart, our son and I begged her not to go. She took him aside, and shortly after came to me and said she's considering suicide with a plan if she didn't go on this trip. I absolutely broke. I let her go without a fight. And it's been killing me every day since. She's scheduled to return home today, and the conversation that follows is filling me with so much dread and anxiety.

I'm terrified of the future. I'm terrified of losing my son. I'm terrified of the truth I've yet to learn.

This would be a super great blessing if I would to be randomly selected to receive this free service. This has for sure been a very difficult journey. I never imagined there would ever be a possibility that I wouldn't grow old with my best friend. The pain is so real, and it's still unbelievable that infidelity has happened in my covenant. My husband and I met at the age of 17 at church. We were each other's 1st of everything, 1st time experiencing a relationship, 1st kiss, 1st marriage, and the list goes on. I had to discover is adulterous ways. He admits to it after evidence was shown. But with discovery and disclosure now learning it has been going on for the pass 7 years of our marriage. Broken but not hopeless.

My recovery needs something more. I need focus and direction. I'd really like to participate. Thank you in advance.

My wife and I have been married for 12 years. I grew up in a home where anger was the only permissible emotion. She grew up in a home of neglect where both parents were using drugs. I have been unloving and unkind for a very long time. I had an affair 6 years ago. She recently had an affair, and has also started online dating. We talked about reconciliation, and I started making positive changes for myself and our marriage. She says she wants to reconcile, but after returning from a work trip, I discovered she is continuing the affair through online dating, and what else, I don’t know. She is very resentful for the years of my shortcomings and failures. It feels like a small breath will extinguish the ember that is our marriage.

This past July I found out about my husband's addiction to pornography and I was broken. Feeling sick and unsafe trying to find way to cope with it and handle it so my 2 girls (10 & 7 YO) never notice how mommy was struggling emotionally. The sadness invades my heart and body. I was feeling internal pain that I couldn't explain. We have been marriage for 17 years and 11 days ago my husband confessed to me all his secrets from the past ( his double life) 4 physical affairs and how he went to those chat room online for sex. Contacting many woman and trying to meet in person with them.
The last affair was 11 years ago before our firstborn when I went to visit my family in another country for 4 weeks and he decided to bring his affairs partner to our apartment and have sex in our own bed. He gave so much details like this that I was in shock. He kept this secret for himself for so long and decided not to contact anybody for sex ever again. He said he stops few month after we found out I was pregnant. So he just keep the pornography and masturbation. Never meet with anybody after my girls were born but he tried to go to those chat again for couple of times and try to plan meet with some woman but it didn't work.
I coudln't believe what I was hearing. I was asking myself who is this men? I don't know him. How I could miss this? How he could do that to me?? Everybody know him a calm and easy going person. Homebody , a nice guys. I couldn't react I was paralyzed I am still in shock. I felt sick to my stomach and the body pain that posses me on that day is still here until today. I am so desvated from my husband betrayal. I need help to go thru this pain that feel like my heart was cut so deep that I don't know if one day the bleeding will stop. I am worried about my state of mind and my health. I am worried about my two girls and it breaks my heart not to be able to be emotional stable for them. They know something wrong is going on with daddy and mommy. My husband decided to go for healing and do whatever it takes to restore our marriage if I decide to stay. I wanna try to save it but I don't know how or where to go from here with this pain and all my broken pieces. I am grieving my loss. I am desparet for help and our financial situation makes it worst for me to see hope. I know there are a lot of good results online and in person. I am in Ontario, Canada and I wish I could me in USA where most all those good resources are accessible. I am so frustrated and alone. Feeling so lonely. My whole family live in another country. So I wanna try this program and I hope that I could. I have been praying to God for a clear sign and answer from God so I hope this will be the answer to my prayer and the begining of my own healing. Thank you for give hope with your program to so many betrayed partner.
Mariale

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