Building Trust After InfidelityCampione

Bowl 2: Reconciliation

Unlike forgiveness, reconciliation is a joint venture. It means that you and your husband agree on what happened and are no longer in a battle over the facts and reality of where things stand. Reconciliation doesn’t necessarily mean restoration. Couples may agree on what happened and find a way to cope or make peace with it, only to return to separate corners in their lives. Oddly, coping may even include divorce or living virtually apart in the same home.

Sadly, if one or both partners aren’t willing to actively participate in the recovery process, protective distance might be necessary. Occasionally, though, husbands or wives settle for a less-than-full recovery because they might not realize there’s more healing to come, or they simply might not want to do the work.

These couples haven’t yet realized the deeper potential of restoration. Maybe one of them – it can be either party – lacks the vision, skills, ability, or assistance to get there. Ideally, however, your marriage will experience something better and greater ahead – something redemptive that’s in line with God’s character. It’s called restoration.

We’ll examine that next.