I just read all of this thread because I was "there" not too long ago. Except my dh is not a Christian. Plus, he was very abusive to me most of our married life. I have been told many times after becoming a Christian to leave him. That God would not want me to stay in an abusive situation. So far, I have not listened to them because I so want him to find Christ. I know how miserable he is, and we have lived together for such a long time, we are bonded together.
Since I decided to show him more love, physically, and by telling him how much I love and need him, he has responded positively. He does not get drunk anymore and hit me. Things are looking better, and he is actually being gentle and kind to me, and saying nice things to me. I know he wants to love me properly, but just has to be taught because he never has seen real love in his lifetime.
We went through a lot together, and I just don't believe it would be right for us to separate. Both of us have cheated on eachother, it's not one sided. But, now that I love God, I know He can forgive anything. I know that He loves me regardless of what I've done in my life. I want dh to know that too.
So, I'm starting to attend a small church, and am learning to be helpful by assisting in a children's sunday school class. I love it, it is a ministry, and my dh thinks it is a good thing also. He has been asking lots of questions and I have hope finally that he will risk giving his life to Christ in the future.
But, it would have been so easy to go to a women's crisis center, they were waiting for me at one time. But, I decided to be strong, and it paid out. I would have had every right to do it, leave him and find a better life. But I would have been haunted by leaving a man who I knew saw in me the only Christian he'd ever known, and then I left him. It would have settled it for him . . . he would have only hate for my God and for me. Now I am just waiting for when the Holy Spirit will have His way, and he will find the peace I have found, and the strength and courage. Thanx for starting this thread back up. It was an accident, but I believe it has helped lots who read it.