If your husband doesn’t accept it or do anything to deserve it, that is something between him and God. But on your part, you are released from the additional future pain that comes with nursing, rehearsing and allowing that pain to keep inflicting you as you hold onto it.

A possible second step is building trust once again. Trust is something that your spouse must participate in to help you to be able to embrace again, if it is to happen. It’s something you would benefit from if you participate with your spouse to allow it to rebuild IF your spouse is repentant and sincere and honest in working toward that goal. But please recognize that the Bible doesn’t tell you that you must trust your husband again… just that you must not allow bitterness to take root.

Unforgiveness robs and continues to steal from you. Don’t give the enemy of your faith that empowerment. Go with God on this. Release bitterness and forgive in your heart and actions– I’m not saying condone or enable… but free yourself from holding onto unforgiveness. It may be a long painful journey to get to that place… but it is worth every step. I hope you will (if you haven’t already). The freedom you can experience in your heart is empowering and truly a gift from God that keeps on giving.

He has a sizable income which he uses for bribery, so the police and justice system are on his side. We have to live with him, sometimes fleeing for our lives, at other times enduring the outrage.

As you might also know, we live in a country where men are treated as gods, and women and children, objects of their devices. As women and children, we have no access to accommodation. There is no form of social security and no protection for women and children, without male family relations. So our children and I have learned to trust God for our protection.

As we hope, pray and plan for our escape, we believe in the promises of God for a beautiful life of peace and prosperity, following our escape, according to His promise. It is this forward looking faith and God’s protection that has kept, and will continue to sustain us.

We have no choice but to forgive my husband’s crimes against us everyday, so we can keep our focus and sanity, and thereby remain in obedience and God’s unfailing, loving care. It is my hope that this comment will minister to someone who is able to escape but still nurses hurts.