By:
Lee J. Langley, M.S., LMFT
Sex is almost always a topic of conversation at some point in couples
counseling. Often, the husband complains there isn't enough sex, while the
wife laments that she's too tired, overwhelmed, or not feeling loved enough
to be motivated for sex. Of course, it can also be the wife who feels
ignored sexually. Unless the couple is able to resolve this dilemma,
the tension between the spouses is usually played out in a variety of
unhealthy and unproductive ways. Often, a couple finds themselves fighting
about things that have nothing at all to do with intimacy as a substitute
for confronting the real issue.
In many cases, a husband will approach his wife for sex and encounter what
he feels is rejection. If this situation is repeated again and again, rather
than beginning a dialogue on the subject, he'll start to distance himself
from his wife, giving her the "cold shoulder". By withdrawing his affection
he avoids additional rejection and exacts payback for the wounding he feels
he's endured. This pattern may seem obvious, and it is common indeed. What's
not so obvious is the insidious effect this tension has on the relationship
over time, as negativity builds and the spouses begin to find fault in each
other over issues that would, in the past, have been considered trivial.
Wives are often not aware of how hurt their husbands are by their rejection
and husbands are equally oblivious to how unloved their wives are feeling,
as their arguments rarely involve sex itself. The wife is furious that her
mate leaves his wet towel on the bathroom floor and he's incensed that she
spends an hour on the phone with her sister every night. Of course, these
complaints are merely more comfortable substitutes for the actual issue:
SEX. When the topic of sex is actually discussed, the air is usually highly
charged with hurt and anger, thus inhibiting any truly satisfying outcome.
It is worth mentioning that physical contact between husband and wife
involves more than just "sex", but also includes non-sexual affection like
cuddling, hand-holding, walking and sitting next to each other, etc.
Sometimes a husband's willingness to embrace this type of contact is all
that's needed to spark more intimacy in the bedroom.
In Christian-based counseling sessions we turn to the Bible for answers as
to how to handle this seemingly daunting issue. 1 Corinthian's 7:3-5 offers
guidance:
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the
wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body
but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have
authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each
other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may
devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will
not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
This passage can be misused by a husband (or wife) who feels entitled to sex
"on demand", but there is another way to view the passage. It seems clear
that both husband and wife are to make themselves available to their spouse
sexually at all times (do not deprive each other...). Thus, rejection is
taken out of the mix. However, in context, it should be noted that while sex
should be available upon request, it should never be demanded by a spouse
when it is clear that his/her partner would suffer in some way by complying
with the request. Examples would include a wife who is in bed with a fever,
a wife or husband who feels uncomfortable engaging in intimacy when the
children are under foot, or perhaps one or the other has just received some
troubling news.
The sexual arena is a prime example of how godly submission and leadership
can be implemented within a Christian marriage to great benefit. Submission
would imply that the wife "suck it up" and make herself available to her
husband sexually whenever he asks. Godly leadership, on the other hand,
would entail a husband never imposing himself sexually on his wife when he
sees that she's uncomfortable for any reason. One could extrapolate from
this example to the marriage relationship as a whole: The wife should ALWAYS
be in godly submission (meaning that she voluntarily places herself under
the care of her husband). The husband should NEVER take advantage of this
gift of submission, but should instead seek to put his wife's needs ahead of
his own both sexually and in making decisions in general for the family. In
this way, the marriage works, like hand in glove, in a way that is edifying
and emotionally fulfilling for both partners.
It seems obvious that marital partners should endeavor to go out of their
way each day to make their spouse's life better. After all, this was the way
they acted during their courtship. It seems so simple, yet the concept has
often been lost in a maze of anger and hurt. Sometimes couples just need
reminding with respect to why they loved each other in the first place and
there's no better way to revive the old feelings than by following God's
plan for marital success.
