Emotional Wreck
1 Peter 3:7
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Is it possible to experience one kind of abuse without being affected by another? It’s hard to imagine not, as there is a common link between each type. When I look at one of the definitions for “wreck”, given by the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, it reads: “a person or animal of broken constitution, health or spirits.” How can a person’s spirit not be broken if she/he is a victim of mental, physical, verbal or emotional abuse? I know that we’ve all had our feelings hurt a time or two, but for someone who deals with or has dealt with emotional abuse, hurt feelings can leave one torn down.
Emotional abuse like verbal abuse is not noticeable to the eye (unlike physical abuse), and can be more discreet than verbal abuse. It’s sometimes camouflaged as “giving advice”, “guidance”, or “teaching”; thus, coming off more subtle and unrecognizable. Intimidation is a more aggressive form of emotional abuse and happens as accusations, threats, or orders. This can weigh heavily on a person, increasing tension and stress within the body, mind and spirit. A husband that demands constant attention from you and wants you to put everything else to the side to tend to his needs, is being emotionally abusive. You may think that he’s spoiled; and for some that may be the case, but if you are subjected to constant criticism and belittlement along with his needy behavior, then he’s not spoiled.
It’s important to be honest with yourself about what’s happening and consider what can be done about it, or you’ll eventually blame yourself for how you’re being treated. Deliberate arguments, are yet another type of emotional abuse, and I had no idea of such. Abuse is designed for the purpose of being able to control another individual. There are several different behaviors that can assist in accomplishing this if you are not made aware of them.
1 Peter 3:7
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
To summarize this: 1 Peter 3:7 When Peter calls women the “weaker” partners, he does not imply moral or intellectual inferiority, but he is recognizing women’s physical limitations. Women in his day, if unprotected by men, were vulnerable to attack, and financial disaster. Women’s lives may be easier today, but women are still vulnerable to criminal attack and family abuse. And in spite of increased opportunities in the workplace, most women still earn considerably less than men, and the vast majority of the nation’s poor are single mother’s and their children. A man who honors his wife as a member of the weaker sex will protect, respect, help, and stay with her. He will not expect her to work full-time outside the home and full-time at home; he will lighten her load wherever he can. He will be sensitive to her needs, and he will relate to her with courtesy, consideration, insight and tact. Also in 1Peter 3:7 If a man is not considerate and respectful of his wife, his prayers will be hindered, because a living relationship with God depends on right relationships with others. Jesus said that if you have a problem with a fellow believer, you must make it right with that person before coming to worship (Matthew 5:23, 24). This principle carries over into family relationships. If men use their position to mistreat their wives, their relationship with God will suffer.
Scripture quotations and summary are taken from the Life Application Study Bible (NIV).
I would like to reiterate that all abuse that happens within marriages is not always done by the male spouse, as wives’ can be abusive too; however, in most cases, the male is the abuser. In either case, please lean not on your own understanding, but look to the Lord for guidance.
Find the Jewel in You, See the Gem in Him!
Treazure
