[KeeperAtHome]

I have just posted an article on what life is like for a Christian woman who is married to a non-Christian man. I would love it if we could have a discussion about what this woman faces in her life. I hope this will be a place that we can share our experiences as well as encouragement and prayer. Please read the article, it has two parts, and get involved in the discussion!

[QueenAngie]

Thank you for sharing, KeeperAtHome!

A Christian wife should continue going to church, having support from church women group and Bible study.
She should pray for her husband to find the Lord and begin attending church with her.

I do not think that quoting Bible verses at a non-Christian husband would be beneficial.
Actions of the wife will speak louder than words.

Prayer works wonders.

[KeeperAtHome]

I agree. If the unsaved spouse asks questions, I think that is a great opportunity for the other spouse to share from the Bible. However, if they've demonstrated a hardness to spiritual things, the wife will say much more by having a sweet, Godly spirit.

[burfield1mom]

As a Christian wife that married an unsaved husband, it can be quite discouraging. my husband was never raised in church, and his mother used his fathers job as an excuse. Two years ago my husband and I went on a high school retreat with some of the most amazing teens(my dearest friend and I plan retreats). This was not the first one that he had been on with me but the most powerful. The night he got saved we had a foot washing and words can not describe! I feel that God has called me to work with teens and young adult in this exact area. I have found that many people that are non Christians have something that at one time they wanted to believe, then were let down. Another thing that I have found with adults is that for some odd reason they get embarrassed, or even scared because they just don't know. Upon reading many books and attending many seminars on this subject here are some of the key ingredients; faith, prayer, patience, and unconditional love.

[pattiewrites]

When my husband and I got married, he never went to church. His parents didn't take him as a kid, so he really didn't believe. I told him that I was fine with that, but the day our first child was born, he would need to attend with us. I believe that it's best for the children if the entire family goes together. Six years later, our first was born and he started going with us, as agreed from the time she was born.

When she was in second grade (last year) he expressed interest in attending classes to learn more and possibly convert. In our church, the classes go from September until Easter and conversion happens at the Easter Liturgy. We hired a babysitter and attended the classes together. I was his sponsor. It was an amazing experience. It renewed my faith as well and brought us together as a couple. Our children were so excited on Easter to see Daddy receive his Sacraments at Mass.

I just wanted to say, don't give up hope. But don't over preach either. Living by example was the best way for my husband. Just because a man doesn't believe at first doesn't mean he never will. Sometimes God just works slowly with some people!

[MJ7]

Though my dh did ask Christ into his life prior to our marriage, it did take some time before he really put his trust in God and followed Him. The more I pushed and nagged the more it pushed him away and he became rebellious.

I felt the Lord prompting my heart to back off. I did and he has gradually drawn closer to God on his own. He has come pretty far. But as for all of us, faith is a journey; a walk, and we never stop needing to grow.

[LBSN]

As a wife who was blessed to marry a man who is a believer. I also think that quoting verses at him would be more damaging. However I heard a story about...
A lady wanted a flower to grow. She had the dirt, the sun, and the water. She prayed for the flower to grow but nothing happened. Why? She forgot to plant the seed.
I think this is like some Christians today...We pray and pray for something to happen, but until we plant the seed it can't grow. So I would suggest asking him to join you at church. Or maybe openly talking about your faith, but not ordering him to do the same thing.
Does this help?

[mcmama]

That is a really nice suggestion, LBSN. If a guy is a non believer, he is eventually going to be part of the circle in some way, either socially or through the education of the children.

My dad was a non catholic. My mom left this alone for quite a few years. When they had kids, he realized that he wanted us in Catholic schools and that he wanted to be a part of that. So he was baptized when I was five.

He turned out to be the most zealous Roman Catholic I have ever met.

[MJ7]

I think sometimes some may feel it is up to them to impact their spouse's heart for Christ. We ought to remember God is more than capable of touching the very point in one's heart--much better than we ever could. We are called to be vessels of Christ, not God Himself. It took a large step of faith for me to back off and trust that God would use me as He so chose, not as I willed.

[Belle0305]

I think this is like some Christians today...We pray and pray for something to happen, but until we plant the seed it can't grow. So I would suggest asking him to join you at church. Or maybe openly talking about your faith, but not ordering him to do the same thing.

I think you hit the nail on the head. You must plant a seed and never cease to pray for your spouse. You can plant a seed by striking up a conversation about eternity or creation and bring in the verses then, but don't preach.
My friends husband isn't a Christian and she struggles everyday praying and hoping he will change. A group of us go out during the weekends and do outreach and her husband didn't want her to do it or their son. She stood her ground and said sharing the gospel is something that we are commanded to do. After while he lightened up a bit and started asking questions and request that we (the group) pray for him. To me that was a sign that something was stirring in his heart. He's still not a believer but my husband I pray for her husband as well as other non- believers, not that they just convert, but that they see their sin as God sees it. It's starts at home with the wife letting her light shine as an example and planting that seed but remembering that God is sovereign and has the ability to change people.