This is a very difficult place to be.

Even Christian married women need love advice when it comes to sex in marriage with their husband. We need marriage encouragement when we are struggling to know what's okay and is it okay and biblical to be sexless or have no sex. it's not. We need …

Have you ever seen the kid's movie Madagascar?

If so, you'll remember that from the time the four main characters (Marty, Melvin, Gloria & Alex) get onto the island, they don't eat anything.

Nothing.

Not until the very end of the movie when the shifty penguins introduce them to sushi, do they finally fill their hunger.

Every time I watch that movie, I am so bothered the entire time by the fact that they haven't eaten anything, I can hardly enjoy the movie.

There is just an uneasy undercurrent in my mind, because, THEY NEED TO EAT SOMETHING! (It must either be the mother, or the Italian in me).

I have this same feeling when I'm speaking to a woman who has told me that she and her husband are not (or are very rarely) being intimate.

She may have moved on to talk about other things, but my mind is stuck in one place.

Even if she starts telling me about other good things that are going on in her life, there is a siren going off in the back of my mind: DANGER, DANGER, NO SEX, DANGER.

So I often try to gently bring the conversation back around, because this is my thing and I genuinely want to help.

But it's a touchy subject, and I'm often shrugged off, I think for three reasons:

1. It's too personal

2. Women often don't realize what a big deal this is.

3. They dread the thought of facing up to the problems, or changing in that area.

I suspect it's usually a little bit of each.

If you are a woman struggling in this area, I would be so honored if you would allow me the privilege of speaking to your heart for just a moment.

First of all, I want to recognize your heart and who you are.

I don't know you, but I know that marriage advice can feel so much like it ignores your unique situation and the ways you feel mistreated.

If you are not giving yourself sexually to your husband- chances are it's because you feel that your own needs have gone completely overlooked for a long time.

You can tell through your husband's actions and words that he does not really care about your heart.

He has not cherished you, tried to pursue you, has been careless and maybe even downright mean to you.

And pulling back from a man who has not shown true care is about the most natural thing in the world. I understand just where you are coming from!

But I'm going to take a bet on you.

If you are still reading this, I am going to bet that you are a woman after genuine change and healing. Even if the idea scares you, the fact that you're reading this article tells me that you are not just content with this separation from your husband. You want more.

And I'm praying that as you continue reading this, your heart would be flooded with an unknown compassion and understanding about your husband.

I pray that the humblest part of yourself will grasp on to the truths you need to hear- because I really do believe that God wants to heal your heart and marriage, and I'm really hoping you will allow it to happen.

What is sex to a man?

For a man, sex is the primary way he feels accepted and expresses intimacy.

The same way that for most of us women, acceptance and intimacy are felt through good communication, feeling loved and understood- for men, that comes through sex.

If your husband were not speaking to you AT ALL, you would probably completely shut down.

If you and your husband are not being intimate, that is why he has completely shut down to you.

Maybe he is there, day in and day out, doing the physical acts of commitment, but his heart is far away.

(If you are physically unable to be intimate with your husband, please read this.)

If your husband were not speaking to you AT ALL, it might take a little while, but something would eventually spark that part of you that was being ignored: a romance novel, romance movies, someone who you really feel understands you- all of these are unhealthy alternatives to your husband.

Maybe you are there already.

If there is no intimacy happening with your husband, there is a good chance he has found another outlet in masturbation and maybe pornography as well.

That is just the truth- and these things, of course, only divide you further.

Neither of you is winning.

But here is the question that will make all of the difference in the world.

The question that 9 out of 10 times will determine whether your marriage will ultimately thrive or fail.

Are YOU willing to humble yourself?

Are you willing to go to God with your sins and shortcomings, stop fighting against your husband with the huge case you have built against him- turn on your heels and head in a different direction.

The high road where you stand with God and let him do the fighting in your marriage for you.

That might sound overly-simple, but as someone who has counseled many women in relationships over the years, I can tell you that:

Humility is ALWAYS the make or break factor.

Will you allow yourself to fall on the rock and be shattered, as the scripture says, or will you continue to try to push through in your own strength, ignore what God says to you, and ultimately be crushed?

I know this is a harsh truth, but we need to speak the truth to each other in love! And this is it, girl.

As a sister in Christ I want to challenge you to see the bigger picture: The enemy is after your marriage (all of ours!).

More than any other relationship on the planet, marriage can paint the best and most beautiful picture of sacrificial, Christ-like love. And your marriage being whole and healed would not only mean your home and children thriving-

you have no idea what a ray of light a thriving marriage shoots out into the world for God's glory.

Not only that, but a thriving marriage that has survived through hardship is THE MOST gratifying and rewarding earthly blessing!

But the beginning of a healthy marriage is a healthy heart.

And healing a broken marriage requires 3 steps on your part:

1. You need to begin acting respectfully toward your husband.

If you're not even sure what that looks like or why that's important, start here.

2. You need to start cultivating DEEP intimacy with God.

This will be the only thing that saves you.

This needs to be your outlet!

The place you release all of your hurts and feelings. The place to "tell on your husband", and leverage the power of prayer to ask God to begin to change both you and your husband's hearts.

Prayer is your ONLY weapon here. But thank God it is THE most powerful thing on the planet.

I can attest to the power of prayer in my own life and marriage, and it has worked miracles! It is why I created this free resource!