Infidelity is the ultimate betrayal in a marriage or other serious relationship. Especially in the case of marriage, where the commitment is made, the vows are declared and the oath is taken, an affair can spell a crushing blow to a spouse.  Sad to say, infidelity can even rear its ugly head in a Christian marriage.

Infidelity Is Not Always Physical

The damage left by infidelity is not limited to that caused by a physical relationship. Many times the infidelity can be on an emotional basis only. When one spouse turns to a friend or co-worker for an attentive ear, compliment, encouragement or support that is lacking at home, the initial connection is made on the emotional level. Even if it never goes beyond that, an outside person has been allowed into an area that should be reserved for your spouse only.

Online chat, email and text messaging has made it easier to engage in these types of adulterous acts. Pornography is another avenue that, at its very core is an act of unfaithfulness and can have catastrophic effects on a marriage.

Physical as well as emotional infidelity has also become more prevalent in our society as an increasing number of families have found it necessary for both husband and wife to enter the workplace where exposure and temptation is heightened.

What Causes Infidelity?

While these factors may increase the opportunities and the ease with which one might make the decision to have an extra-marital affair, they are not the underlying cause of the infidelity. There are any number of factors that could be involved in the decision to be unfaithful.  Problems at home can range from emotional to financial to sexual.  High levels of stress, isolation and loneliness, peer pressure and even one’s childhood experiences and surroundings can contribute to breaking faithfulness with a partner.

If infidelity does occur in your relationship you have a difficult decision to make. Infidelity can be the end…or it can be a new beginning. Either choice you make will take some work.

The Road After Infidelity

Walking away from the life the two of you have built together is not an easy task, especially with the psychological effects left by having your mate cheat on you.

Making the decision to restore the marriage may also seem to be an impossible undertaking when the betrayal of infidelity is present. But be assured, any relationship can be repaired if you are willing to work at it and follow good advice.

Should you choose to rebuild the marriage, the first step you must make is to determine the underlying cause that led to your partner’s infidelity. This will take some doing, but don’t stop till you find the root. Then begin to work on that part of your marriage.

Even though you were the victim and the one deeply hurt, playing the victim will not help the relationship to move forward. Likewise, neither will pointing the finger of guilt help you to fix what was broken.  If you are going to create a new beginning, you need to leave the past in the past. Though not easy, it will be a necessary part of the recovery process.

With time, healing will come, forgiveness will come, trust will be restored and you will find that your new marriage is stronger than ever before.  Remember, infidelity does not always mean the end.