Beyond Broken Vows | Christian Marriage, Adultery, Pornography Addiction, Sexual Betrayal, Intimacy – Details, episodes & analysis

What is addiction?

How does it work?

Is it just about deciding to stop destructive behaviors?

Addiction can be a mystery for many couples. Husbands may wonder if they are addicts after betraying their spouse. Wives often struggle to understand how their partner could engage in such hurtful actions for so long.

When our marriage faced sexual betrayal six years ago, we were just as confused about sexual addiction as many of you. Since then, we've learned a lot and want to share key insights about addiction.

We will explore the complexities of sex addiction. We'll discuss how addiction affects not only the addict but also their loved ones, especially spouses.

We’ll cover the addiction cycle and its pain, using the concept of 'The Bubble' to explain the addict's inner world.

This episode is a chance to learn and and also foster conversations that lead to deeper intimacy.

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

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Out of the Shadows, by Patrick Carnes

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 17. Is My Spouse A Porn Addict? 13 Clues To Help Expose Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Episode 26. Recovery Step 1: Hooked on Porn? Admitting Helplessness Over Pornography’s Pull

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When it comes to confronting the aftermath of sexual betrayal, each of us will set out on a unique journey to healing and restoration.

This was certainly true of our guest April Truitt. April shares the deeply personal and transformative story of her marriage's journey through infidelity. After discovering her husband's affair, April recounts the emotional devastation and the path to recovery that followed. She discusses the underlying issues in their marriage, their struggles with insecurity, and how her husband's affair led to a profound period of self-examination and spiritual growth.

With time and guidance from their church and counselor, this precious couple was able to confront their emotional intimacy issues, work through forgiveness, and rebuild their marriage stronger than before.

April also highlights her own battles with shame, negative self-talk, and the transformative power of relying on God's grace. Now, as an author and speaker, she aims to help others facing similar struggles, offering her book, 'A Wife's Recovery from an Affair: The Story of a Faithful God,' and a free journaling workbook on her website.

Join us today as we hear from April about what God was teaching her through her personal recovery journey.

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

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CONNECT WITH APRIL:

www.apriltruitt.com

www.awifesrecoveryfromanaffair.com mailto:apriltruittspeaker@gmail.com FB - April Truitt Speaker/Author Freebie! An Affair Recovery Journal Prompt/Devotional Download www.awifesrecoveryfromanaffair.com/free-affair-recovery-workbook

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 04. Sharing Our Story: From Infidelity and Addiction to Reconciliation and Recovery

Episode 58. Purpose from Pain. Did Sexual Betrayal Destroy God’s Plan for Your Marriage?

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Have you gotten to the point in your recovery journey from marital infidelity where you may be feeling the fatigue of endless questions, lack of trust, and having to talk about the pain every day and you’re asking yourself, "Can't we just get back to normal"?

What is normal?

What if "normal" got you to where you are today? Would you really want to go back?

Join us today as we outline the shortest path through minefield of betrayal and addiction recovery to the seemingly illusive "Promised Land".

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

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RESOURCES:

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 13. His Triggers, Her Triggers – 4 Steps For Dealing With Triggers While Healing From Infidelity

Episode 50. Are You Thriving or Just Surviving in Marriage After Sexual Betrayal

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As we approach the end of 2024, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year of recovery. Was this last year anything that we hoped or imagined it would be? What went well? What missed the mark of our expectations? What could we have done differently?

These are all good questions to ask ourselves in light of the upcoming New Year.

Our recovery journey from porn-fueled infidelity and betrayal trauma to true intimacy is no different. We must ask ourselves these types of questions if we are to stay on the path to regain what was lost, stolen, or given away.

So, grab your favorite holiday beverage and listen in as we reflect on this past year and share some harrowing obstacles we encountered and insights on what we learned along the way.

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe

RESOURCES:

Covenant Eyes Use promo Code BBV to get 30 days free! (website purchase only)

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 62. Social Media Hack Triggers Trauma From Porn-Fueled Infidelity

Episode 77. 4 Practical Steps for Vigilance in Recovery from Porn-Fueled Infidelity

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Are you looking for hope in what may seem to be a hopeless situation right now?

Merriam-Webster defines hope as "to expect with confidence".

During this Christmas season many of us are looking for hope. Hope that things will change for the better or maybe just hope that the pain of betrayal and the confusion of addiction will simply “go away”.

Friends, let me assure you that there is true hope to be found in the reality of the arrival of Jesus into our world and our lives. When we remember to set our focus on Immanuel, “God with us” it is easier to see that you are not alone and there is hope.

Join us today as we impart our message of hope to you as you move through the devastation of porn-fueled infidelity.

Merry Christmas!

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe

RESOURCES:

Covenant Eyes Use promo Code BBV to get 30 days free! (website purchase only)

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 30. Has Adultery Grinched Your Christmas? 2 Ways to Approach Holiday Season Triggers After Sexual Betrayal

Episode 33. The Greatest Gift at Christmas: A 12-Stop Journey To God’s Plan for Redemption

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Are you looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year? Or maybe for you, Christmastime has a dark shadow over it because of the discovery of sexual betrayal in your marriage and you’re wondering if it is ever going to get better.

We know how that feels! Several years ago, we faced the shocking reality of infidelity in our marriage, and it turned our Christmas into a painful blur. Before that experience, each of us had such different perspectives on holiday joy. Let’s just say one of us was a real Humbug.

But after going through the healing journey together, we’ve found common ground in how we celebrate Christmas, and it has truly become more meaningful than ever.

So, why not cozy up with a warm cup of hot cocoa and join us as we share some heartfelt stories of Christmases past and a sprinkle of hope for the present? You're not alone in this journey!

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe

RESOURCES:

Covenant Eyes Use promo Code BBV to get 30 days free! (website purchase only)

(Paid affiliate links may be included. We earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.)

RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 30. Has Adultery Grinched Your Christmas? 2 Ways to Approach Holiday Season Triggers After Sexual Betrayal

Episode 33. The Greatest Gift at Christmas: A 12-Stop Journey To God’s Plan for Redemption

NEXT STEPS:    

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On today's show, we share our transformative journey from the deep struggles of pornography addiction and infidelity to healing and restoration. If you remember back on episode #75, we had a guest on our show who gave us some incredible insights on how to Heal with God, from heavy things like sexual betrayal, shame and unforgiveness.

Heather O’Brien is the host of the podcast Heal with God, and we were so blessed to have her on our show a couple months ago. We both gleaned some nuggets of truth that we have since implemented in our own healing journey, so we encourage you to go back and listen to that episode if you haven’t heard it yet. We’ve also put more ways to connect with Heather and her resources below in our show notes.

Heather was kind enough to ask us to be on her show and we are sharing that interview with you now, so settle in for some vulnerable answers to some difficult questions.

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe

CONNECT with Heather O’Brien:

Heal with God podcast

Heather’s Website

Heather’s Free Mental Makeover Challenge

RESOURCES:

Covenant Eyes Use promo Code BBV to get 30 days free! (website purchase only)

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 63. Got Porn Brain? What It Is and How It Affects You and Your Marriage

Episode 75. Heal With God From Sexual Betrayal, Shame, and Unforgiveness: feat. Heather O'Brien

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Ladies, do you and your husband seem to be in a never-ending cycle of communication misfires? You ask him hard questions, he gives you answers, but you still aren’t connecting and moving forward.

Are you frustrated and confused by his responses, or lack thereof, leaving you with no confidence that he is telling the truth or that he sees your pain?

Today we address the challenges of rebuilding trust and the emotional journey for both spouses. We discuss common questions such as, 'Will I ever trust my husband again?' and 'How long will this take?' We will share our own experience with building trust and the obstacles to trust we encountered. 

So how is trust rebuilt after trust is broken through porn-fueled infidelity? Here’s a hint…husbands, you hold the key to her heart. Let’s dive in!

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe

RESOURCES:

Covenant Eyes Use promo Code BBV to get 30 days free! (website purchase only)

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 22. How Long Will This Hurt? Experiencing The 5 Stages of Grief Through the Lens of Sexual Betrayal

Episode 37. Recovery Step 8: My Addiction To Porn Hurt Others. 4 Questions to Ask When Making it Right

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Ah, the holiday season! A time filled with twinkling lights, joyful gatherings, and, let's face it, a few emotional landmines for those who have been through the wringer with sexual betrayal. If the holiday cheer takes a nosedive because you discovered your partner’s unfaithfulness—whether it was last month, a year ago, or even two decades back—we totally get it.  It's completely natural for memories, triggers, and difficult emotions to surface and cast a shadow over the festivities. 

But fear not! We’ve learned one of the most powerful antidotes to this holiday struggle. Filling your heart with thankfulness and gratitude can work wonders to transform those tough feelings into a brighter holiday season. So, let’s exchange a few of those heavy thoughts for a dash of joy and give this season a few glimmers of hope and peace.

Don your stretchy pants, grab yourself another slice of pumpkin pie, and settle in for a cornucopia of gratitude and thankfulness.

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe

RESOURCES:

Covenant Eyes Use promo Code BBV to get 30 days free! (website purchase only)

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 28. Giving Thanks In Your Broken Marriage Through Gratitude

Episode 78. Praising God While in the Storm of Sexual Betrayal and Porn-Fueled Infidelity

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Making and apology to our betrayed spouse is one of the more important facets of our recovery process. However, have you had the experience when making an apology to your spouse, it seemed to cause more damage than give relief? So, what is the secret to a good apology and how can it be done with respect and honesty that can lead to true intimacy.

Since publishing episode #10, When “I’m Sorry” Isn’t Enough: 8 Steps to a Healing Apology, we have had many requests for the Healing Apology worksheet, mostly from husbands who realized that they needed to apologize to their spouse for the ways they hurt them through their infidelity. We have gotten some great feedback from those who have used this valuable tool. Many found it very helpful, but others, not so much. Through this feedback we’re going to expand on the Healing Apology resource and give some caveats to help folks have a more successful experience.

You will not want to miss our conversation today as we talk through 7 caveats for an effective healing apology.

We pray this blesses you,

Johnny and Emily

💜Work with us! coaching.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Hang out with us and support our ministry on Patreon, https://beyondbrokenvows.com/partner

💜Become a Beyond Broken Vows Insider! Receive our weekly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories, marriage tips, podcast previews and early access to giveaways and promotions! insider.beyondbrokenvows.com

💜Send us a voice message on SpeakPipe

RESOURCES:

Covenant Eyes Use promo Code BBV to get 30 days free! (website purchase only)

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RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 10. When “I’m Sorry” Isn’t Enough: 8 Steps to a Healing Apology

Episode 11. Freedom and Healing: 4 Keys to Unlocking Forgiveness After Sexual Betrayal

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