By Jess Robichaud

Do you fall into a fear trap in marriage? I often do, but I’ve learned how to step aside with God’s help. Here are my tips for you.

The Fear Trap in My Marriage

There we were on one of our nightly walks through the neighborhood. We had been talking for a couple of hours about our future and what the next few years might look like.

All of sudden, something shifted. I could feel the disconnect in the pit of my stomach. 

I could feel we weren’t on the same page about some next steps, our next place to live, buying or renting, finances and more.

I began to be a bit short with my husband. I started making my hopes, desires, and expectations bigger than they actually were.   

Do you ever find yourself doing that? Fearing your expectations might not be met or that your spouse might be on a different page? Then choosing to talk more rigidly about your expectations, and inflating them (as if that will help)? 

When I feel scared, I do this.

Recognizing the Fear Trap

My husband and I both have very strong personalities with very strong opinions. When we feel that the other isn’t on the same page, we can begin polarizing each other, holding tighter and tighter to our own rigid expectations. 

I finally looked at him and said, “I think we are both talking out of fear right now.” Fear that we won’t be on the same page moving forward. Another fear that our desires will clash with one another. A nagging fear that the other person won’t be flexible (which is ironically funny, considering that we can both be pretty rigid). 

Fear is an incredibly powerful emotion. It has the ability to weasel its way into the very fibers of a marriage, subtly cutting what holds a husband and wife together. Fear increases selfishness, directs our attention away from God and pushes us to abandon any sense of rational thought. 

When you think about past arguments or struggles with your spouse, where can you see fear at the core? 

Let’s talk about what to do from there.

How to Avoid the Fear Trap in Marriage

Here are six suggestions for avoiding the fear trap in your marriage.

Shine a light and name the fear. 

“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” Ephesians 5:13 (NIV)

Allow yourself to feel the fear. Acknowledge it and name it. This will shine light and bring truth and clarity. When we name the fear, we can push through and conquer it, rather than merely tiptoe around it. 

Share that fear with the Lord. 

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

God wants to hear our hearts. He wants to sit in the fear with us and help us to wrestle through it. 

Honesty. Transparency. Authenticity. This is what God wants. He wants your heart. In being open with him and surrendering the struggle, he can help to heal that struggle and restore unity with him and your spouse. 

Share your fears with each other. 

Being vulnerable and sharing our innermost fears with our spouse will build emotional intimacy. Sharing and listening gently and truly seeking to understand one another will anchor a marriage in trust, security and safety. 

Slow down and take things one step at a time.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Remember you don’t have to have everything figured out right now. Part of being on an adventure with God is trusting him even though we can’t see the journey or the destination. He has a plan and he will guide and direct us. We just have to submit our hearts to him. 

Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride. 

Let go of rigid expectations. 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) 

We don’t need to hold onto our expectations when we trust that God is truly in control. He is FOR us and he is WITH us. 

By releasing these expectations and trusting the Lord, we gain true peace. 

Recognize the enemy’s work.

In the midst of working through fear, don’t allow the enemy to taint your perspective of your spouse. Even though your husband might not agree with you, if he is submitted to the Lord, that’s all that matters. 

Remember this: The journey is more important than the end result. 

The journey of trusting God, giving him our fear, and working through that fear with our spouse…these are all much more important. With God’s help, we can avoid the fear trap in marriage.

Wife Step: Ask yourself where is fear playing into your interactions with my husband, and invite God into the conversation.

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