Week 278: Marriages and Jealousy

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Please join us this week in praying for marriages dealing with the issue of jealousy.

Jealousy can arise in a marriage in a number of ways. The cause can be internal to the marriage, as when a spouse shows excessive or inappropriate attention to a person other than his/her spouse. In fact, jealousy can arise if the same excessive attention is given to something other than a person, such as work or even a hobby. Another cause of jealousy is low self-esteem or extreme possessiveness which causes one spouse to see every relationship the other spouse has as a threat or competition.

Jealousy can also arise externally to the marriage when a third party shows inappropriate attention to one's marriage partner even though that partner may be above reproach or even actively shuns the attention.

Another form of jealousy that can attack a marriage is that which arises because of differences in life situations. Jealousy can crop up if one spouse has good relationships with parents and siblings and the other spouse does not. Also, jealousy can attack a marriage if one spouse experiences seemingly effortless career advancement and the other struggles just the stay employed.

Jealousy is particular damaging to marriages since it can easily lead to deeper problems such as excessive control, emotional coldness, distrust, fear, physical illness and even domestic violence.

Please pray with us that spouses dealing with the issue of jealousy will
  • first evaluate their own hearts and minds, making sure they are not turning innocence events into violations of trust
  • be open and honest with each other concerning limits with which they are comfortable and situations with which they are uncomfortable
  • let each other know in a loving but straight-forward way when and why feelings of jealousy arise
  • be willing to refrain from activities or relationships that could engender jealousy
  • be knowledgeable and understanding of each other's areas of vulnerability

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