I'm very sorry to hear about your situation. Ellen White's writings address the pain and complexity of marital infidelity, and while she does not give a single, simple answer, she offers several principles and counsel that may help guide you:
- Act from Principle, Not Impulse: "You should see that his duty is to labor to sustain his family. You should bring yourself to deny your desires and wishes, and not lead him to feel that he must accommodate himself to you. You have a part to act in bearing the burdens of life. You must put on courage and fortitude. Be a woman, not a capricious child... It is now your duty to seek to deny your wishes and desires, and act from principle, for the present and future good of your family." (
2T 433.3)
- The Sacredness of the Marriage Circle: "Around every family there is a sacred circle that should be kept unbroken. Within this circle no other person has a right to come. Let not the husband or the wife permit another to share the confidences that belong solely to themselves." (
MH 361.1)
- Healing and Moving Forward: "God will heal his wounded spirit, if he will let Him. But in doing this, he will have to bury the past. He should not talk of it, or write of it." (
3T 97.2)
- Seek God and Act with Forbearance: "If you will now humbly turn to the Lord with all your heart, He will pity and help you... You should exercise forbearance, patience, and true courtesy. By thus doing, you can show the power of true grace and the influence of the truth." (
2T 227.1)
- Avoid Sharing Private Matters with Others: "The wife has let her sympathies and interest and affection go out to other men... She makes these her confidants, shows a preference for their society, and relates to them her troubles and perhaps her private family matters." (
2T 462.1)
Ellen White encourages those who have been wronged to seek God for healing, to act with courage and principle, and to avoid making hasty decisions based on emotion. She also emphasizes the importance of keeping the marriage relationship private and sacred, and not sharing personal matters with others outside the marriage.
If you are struggling with what to do next, prayerfully seek God's guidance, consider counseling, and try to act with patience and principle for the good of yourself and your family. If you would like more specific counsel or have further questions, please let me know.
References:
- White, E. G. (1870). Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, p. 433.3; p. 227.1; p. 462.1.
- White, E. G. (1905). The Ministry of Healing, p. 361.1.
- White, E. G. (1872). Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 97.2.