There is way more in the Bible about how to treat each other than the topic of divorce. It just doesn’t get spoken.
I need to leave, and so do you. But, you have to have a plan and help. Like the Buddy dog, some will reach out to help you, but you don’t know if they are kind and have Christlike love for you. Buddy is blessed to have Mart–another man after God’s heart–care for him.

I’ve been through the “help” cycle so much. When you trust, open up, you become the problem, the one who gets worked over and punished, while your abuser doesn’t because he doesn’t give the “helpers” anything to work with. So ask God to give you discernment with help and to find the right church group or organization or individuals or a lawyer who will stand up for you. I do. It isn’t easy. The enemy works create doubt in us that God will not meet our needs and it’s a lie.

Awhile back poohpity used the word “institutionalized” and it has been ringing in my ears. That’s what we have to stop accepting, and the first step is faith that Jesus has set you free.

I didn’t get to the JW site because I’ve had a lot of distractions. But I haven’t forgotten.

I love my Jesus ’cause He first loved me.

Someitmes God does tell us to do just that:
I know of an example, it is Rees Howell, a man from Whales 100 years ago, he was part of the Revival that took place there. When he started his ministry the Holy Spirit told him to be a buddy to an alcoholic man in the village. The HS explicitely told him not to preach to him, just to keep company with him.
So he walked with him on the streets, wandered where he wandered. Just read the book if you can. Rees Howell had a great ministry in his later life.

I know of another ministry; Of an man in Cambodja. God told him to start an orphanage, not churches, but orphanages. The man was very unsure what his organisation that had sent hin would think of him. Because he was not starting churches as he was supposed to do. But Gods ways are not always clear to us. We must hear His voice.
The orphanages started to grow and grow, and are now sort of churches. The gospel is preached.

This topic of lowering to a level where we can meet people is very much God’s way.
Hear His voice.

Pooh: Not to worry!! Loretta shared, a few weeks ago, that she had a JW friend she was trying to witness to. She shared that the JW friend would not let her see her bible to let her see what it said or how it compared to the “real thing,” so I sent her a link to an online JW bible.

I was in the same position for several years, visiting with a JW woman & also trying to witness to her. She was more open and shared many resources which were very helpful to me in understanding what she believed and leaving many opportunities to point out inconsistencies in their beliefs and for asking questions she could not answer, hoping that in her search for the answer, her eyes might be opened to the truth. Unfortunately she was too brain-washed. I had to discontinue our visits when I felt that it was becoming a waste of my time and I can only pray that someday she will see the light before it is too late.

“ his mouth is full of cursing, deceit, oppression (fraud); under his tongue are trouble and sin (mischief and iniquity)…[The prey] is crushed, sinks down; and the helpless falls by his mighty [claws]…

Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the humble [patient and crushed]… You have seen it; yes, You note trouble and grief (vexation) to requite it with Your hand. The unfortunate commits (herself) to You…

O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts, You will cause Your ear to hear… to do justice to…the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may not terrify them any more.” (Ps 10: 7-18)

Loretta, I can identify with you. I was in a similar relationship many years ago. He was a drinker and physically abusive and I feared for my life many times. YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS (and have been for a long time). God bless you in your struggles. I pray that He will be your comfort and strength in your daily struggles. Just know that He will never leave you nor forsake you and He knows what you face every day.

I have been married for nearly 40 years. My husband is not a drinker, but he is verbally abusive. Having been in a previous physically abusive relationship, I can attest to the fact that verbal & emotional abuse is just as, or even more hurtful as the physical is.

We went to a Christian marriage conference in May, 2008. It seemed, at the time, that as a result, the hard things in our relationship were turning around for the better. I once again opened myself up, but my trust has been violated again. He has reverted back to the person he was before we went to that conference. Only God knows what the outcome will be. I don’t believe in divorce, but it sure is becoming more difficult to stay in this relationship. I keep praying for the Lord’s return to release me from it.

Loretta – As an aside, a few weeks ago I gave you the link to the online version of the JW bible. Has that been helpful to you?

I’m set free spiritually, I’m pursuing getting a job and doing all I can think of to prepare for what is next.

You are all His Light in my dark world. Your needs will be in my prayers too.

I love my Jesus.