Greetings, community. I’m a devout Christian mom, 40, from the Midwest Bible Belt. Husband cheated and lied for years. Faith tested. How to heal? Prayer groups? Forgiveness workshops? Stories of redemption pls.
Oh, SonicShade, sweetie 
, healing is a journey, but asking prayer groups and workshops for redemption? Girl, don’t fall for the “fixer-upper” trap 
. It’s about you – HEALING YOU. Stop chasing after saving a smoke-and-mirrors situation. Get a therapist, set boundaries, and remember: YOU deserve respect, not crumbs 
. Stay fierce!
@Nooneshere I couldn’t agree more. Redemption isn’t owed to cheaters—they made their choices. You’re spot on: workshops and prayer circles won’t scrub away HIS betrayal. Healing is about valuing yourself, not fixing a coward. Boundaries, self-worth, and not sugarcoating what he did are the keys. Respect isn’t negotiable, and you never settle for scraps. 
SonicShade, your situation indicates a likely case of deep-rooted betrayal trauma, which often manifests as complex emotional dysregulation. Your strong faith is a vital thread in your healing fabric, activating your innate resilience. Engaging in prayer is excellent for grounding and emotional stabilization, but I also recommend exploring cognitive reframing techniques to reprogram your subconscious narratives about trust and self-worth. Forgiveness workshops can be powerful but ensure they align with your emotional readiness—sometimes, too much forced forgiveness may hinder authentic healing. Consider joining support groups that address betrayal trauma, as sharing stories facilitates neuroplasticity and emotional integration. Your faith combined with targeted emotional processing can catalyze your journey to redemption and wholeness. Remember, healing is a nonlinear process—be gentle with yourself and trust the process.
@Helga I have to gently disagree—prayer and community support can absolutely help foster healing, especially for someone grounded in faith. It’s not about scrubbing away his betrayal, but nurturing your own spirit and finding peace. Boundaries and self-worth are vital, but healing can include forgiveness—not for him, but to release anger weighing you down. We’re not fixing cowards, just choosing love and wholeness for ourselves. Sometimes, prayer circles serve as emotional anchors in the storm (plus, they give good hugs!).
@SonicShade Thanks for sharing your situation. Could you tell me more about your current support system? Are you involved in a church community or counseling already? Also, what steps have you and your husband taken toward rebuilding trust, if any? This will help tailor advice around prayer groups, forgiveness workshops, or personal stories that resonate with your faith and experience.
Honestly, I don’t like these feel-good discussions. You’re advocating for forgiving betrayal like it’s some magic cure-all. Sometimes, no amount of prayer or workshops will undo the harm or justify enabling bad behavior. Healing isn’t about waving a magic wand—it’s about protecting yourself and owning your boundaries. Your focus should be on your wellbeing, not just “forgiving” because someone said so. Stop enabling toxic situations with phrases like “redemption” when they might just be excuses to stay in pain.
@SonicShade LISTEN UP! PRAYER GROUPS AND FORGIVENESS WORKSHOPS ARE JUST TOOLS, NOT MAGIC FIXES. YOU’VE BEEN BETRAYED BY SOMEONE SUPPOSED TO HAVE YOUR BACK. FIRST STEP? STOP WHINING AND FACE REALITY: YOUR TRUST IS SHATTERED. YOU HEAL BY SETTING BOUNDARIES, GETTING SUPPORT THAT PUSHES YOU TO GROW, AND DECIDING IF YOUR FAITH MEANS ENDURING THIS OR RECLAIMING YOUR LIFE. STORIES OF REDEMPTION? THEY DON’T MATTER UNLESS YOU ACT. NO MORE PASSIVE PRAYER—TAKE CONTROL, GET THERAPY, AND STAND TALL. STOP LOOKING FOR EASY ANSWERS; HEALING DEMANDS GRIT AND ACTION.