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Christian Weddings

I don't know how to do this... (Sorry, long post!)

After being hit with the topic of pregnancy from three completely unrelated sources this morning, I spent the afternoon, before work, in a bit of a panic, soooo scared that I might be pregnant. 

I grew up in a Christian home hearing over and over that sex is meant for married couples only, and I always thought I would stay pure, but that didn't happen. With my first boyfriend, we didn't go all the way, but we went too far. I was better with my second boyfriend because he had very strong convictions about it, hard as it was for him to resist. With my FI, we became sexually active two months into our relationship. 

I've been at this weird place in my relationship with God for the last few years, (despite serving two years as a missionary teacher overseas), and in the distance, I didn't really feel guilty for having premarital sex.

Even recently, as I've realized how much I need a small group (church on Sundays is NOT enough!), and my FI and have started reading our Bibles and praying together more, we've kept on having sex. Nobody in my family knows, and it's been awful having this secret.

Now after reading the pregnancy announcement a few threads below this, hearing my brother describe the funny skit (involving a pregnant teen) he did in his Spanish class, and coming across the situation of a girl thinking she might be pregnant in an interview I'm transcribing for my grad school supervisor, the possible consequences of my actions have really sunk in.

Yesterday, I had told my FI to come by after work today, since my brother (who I live with) would be out, and we’d have the place to ourselves. So he came over this evening expecting a fun time, started feeding me our favourite vegan cheesecake, and I burst into tears. I told him about my pregnancy fears, and he said that we could stop having sex. We could have a fresh start and wait for our wedding. I agreed.

We finished eating, had a cuddle on the couch, and he started picking up all the clothes he had strewn across my bedroom floor from other times. Honestly, it started to feel like a break-up. He assured me that he still loves me and we are still getting married, but I feel like I’ve just lost this expression of love for him and I feel like I am treating him so unfairly. It’s one thing to have a conviction and stand by it all the way, but it’s another to enjoy and often initiate sex, and then turn around and deny him/us that.

I don’t know how to do this...he was going to stay the night, but decided it would be best if he left. He texted me a little while later to tell me not to cry without him there to console me. Ha! Yeah, these tears won’t stop coming...I am just praying it’s PMS. Sorry this post is so incoherent! It’s like my mind right now... 

Re: I don't know how to do this... (Sorry, long post!)

  • FaithCaitlinFaithCaitlin member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    I am not one to judge or advise on premarital sex as FI and I have been happily enjoying sex together for about 4 years now... What I will say is this: you have to do what is right for you. Pray about this-- alone and together. Most Christians will tell you premarital sex is wrong. I wouldn't have had sex had I not known FI and I would get married. But that's just us. Again, the only way you'll find an answer to this is by prayer and contemplation. Aside from the sex issue, I want to also say that I think your pregnancy fears are irrational. If you are using protection correctly, you will most likely not get pregnant. I have been on the pill since I was 16 and have never had a pregnancy scare. Of course no method is 100% effective, but I know you don't need a lecture on that... ;) Finally, if you and FI decide to cease sexual activity until the wedding, I think you need to make the decision together and really stick with it. It would be so easy for FI and I to say we would stop having sex but it wouldn't be done as easily, lol. Again, prayer and contemplation. Also, go eat a big bowl of ice cream and try to relax (for the PMS and the rough day!). Finally, I'm much more liberal than most of the girls on here so my advice may not be "kosher" or appreciated. Take it as you will. Hope you feel better!!

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  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_dont-this-sorry-long-post?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:4026ede3-da58-40ae-8844-9d591acaf7dePost:fe891716-b48c-441f-98ac-b4acd918ffb3">I don't know how to do this... (Sorry, long post!)</a>:
    [QUOTE]I feel like I am treating him so unfairly. It’s one thing to have a conviction and stand by it all the way, but it’s another to enjoy and often initiate sex, and then turn around and deny him/us that.
    Posted by kipnus[/QUOTE]

    I just prayed for you. I want to encourage you and commend you for taking the intiative on stopping this.

    Following Christ is not about being perfect from the beggining because none of us will or can do that. So if we just gave up and kept continuing in sin in which we have previously fallen we would be sinning every sin all the time.

    You're taking the right step by repenting. It is not unfair of you to deprive him of sex because it is not his right as your fiance to have sex (when you're married you shouldn't be depriving eachother re: 1 Corinthians 7:5 but those instructions are for husband and wife).
  • edited December 2011
    This totally reminds me of the story of the adulterous woman. Jesus didn't focus on her mistakes and wrong-doings, he protected her from an angry crowd, used endearing terms with her and encouraged her to live a new way. 

    God isn't keeping record of your mistakes-- past or future. He is enamored with you. I absolutely think you are making the right decision and your FI has proven himself to be an awesome guy. A lot of guys would be out the door but his response shows character and integrity. This guy is willing to support you in God's leading and that will go SO far in a marriage. 

    You are doing the right thing! 
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  • MelissaC315MelissaC315 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through. A few things that came to mind:

    1) You have every right to deny a man your body... regardless of whether or not you gave it to him before. If you truly feel like you would like to wait until marriage from this point forward than you should stand behind that decision and your FI should respect and honor that as well.
    2) Do you have a conviction to quit having sex or are you just afraid of getting pregnant? If it's just for fear of pregnancy than maybe that's something to talk to your FI about and make sure you're doing the things you should be doing to stay safe. If it's because you have a conviction to wait until marriage now then you should communicate that to your FI. At least then he will fully understand where this sudden change has come from. I think it probably caught him a little offguard and he's wondering if he did something wrong or what's going on, etc. I think you two need to sit down and have an open and honest conversation about sex, marriage, etc. Hopefully he left tonight because he wants to respect you and needs some time to process. I would just relax tonight watch some tv, eat ice cream, or read a book. And then talk to your FI tomorrow with a fresh state of mind.
    3) I did this as well. FI and I were previously sexually active and have stopped. I felt in my heart that it was meant to be enjoyed in marriage. I know that it feels strange to stop having sex when you once were. A lot of people asked me well you've already sinned what's the difference now? My answer is always the same... I DID sin but am NOT sinning now and also this isn't just for God. It's for me and where my heart is at. My FI worried I wasn't attracted to him anymore so we sat down and discussed what I was really feeling. He understood and respects it, which is exactly what any loving fiance should do.

    I hope very much that this works out well for you. If you need to vent/talk feel free! I'll pray for you Laughing
  • ochemjennochemjenn member
    500 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    Reread what FaithCaitlin said, because she wrote it better than I could.  Except I read "ice" as "rice" and didn't know what rice cream was.  Craving some fried rice right now.

    Although we'd started having sex almost 4 years before we got married, DH and I were pure for the three months before our wedding.  It's always important to communicate about expectations, but I think it's even more important if you go from being sexually active to being completely abstinent.  If you decide to stop having sex, you need to set up new boudaries.  For example, DH and I kissed, but nothing more (no making out even).  When you're used to going further, it's easy for one person to forget and try to pass the new boundaries.
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  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_dont-this-sorry-long-post?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:4026ede3-da58-40ae-8844-9d591acaf7dePost:b3d7fdda-a40d-4acd-b2f6-0853ad84246b">Re: I don't know how to do this... (Sorry, long post!)</a>:
    [QUOTE]I am not one to judge or advise on premarital sex as FI and I have been happily enjoying sex together for about 4 years now... What I will say is this: you have to do what is right for you. Pray about this-- alone and together. Most Christians will tell you premarital sex is wrong. I wouldn't have had sex had I not known FI and I would get married. But that's just us. Again, the only way you'll find an answer to this is by prayer and contemplation. Aside from the sex issue, I want to also say that I think your pregnancy fears are irrational. If you are using protection correctly, you will most likely not get pregnant. I have been on the pill since I was 16 and have never had a pregnancy scare. Of course no method is 100% effective, but I know you don't need a lecture on that... ;) Finally, if you and FI decide to cease sexual activity until the wedding, I think you need to make the decision together and really stick with it. It would be so easy for FI and I to say we would stop having sex but it wouldn't be done as easily, lol. Again, prayer and contemplation. Also, go eat a big bowl of ice cream and try to relax (for the PMS and the rough day!). Finally, I'm much more liberal than most of the girls on here so my advice may not be "kosher" or appreciated. Take it as you will. Hope you feel better!!
    Posted by FaithCaitlin[/QUOTE]
    All of this, except change the 4 years to about 2.5 years.  That's what I would say to you.
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  • iamjoesgurliamjoesgurl member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    I really believe that if you are feeling convicted, both of you should go before God and ask Him what He wants for you.  It is a dangerous thing to ignore God's prompting because I feel that if we hear Him telling us something and ignore it, we will eventually stop hearing Him altogether.  (He'll still be talking but we won't be listening.)  It is too easy to hear God's small whisper and convince ourselves that what we are doing is okay.  I know that I have a tendency to do this and have to remind myself that God wants what's best for me and sometimes it is not the thing that I want or think is best for me. 

    This is a very personal thing and so that's the best advice I have for you.  I'll be praying that God will clearly reveal His will to you and I encourage you to seek Him.  In the scriptures, we are promised that we will find Him if we seek Him with all of our hearts.  (Jeremiah 29:13) 
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  • mrandmrsbristmrandmrsbrist member
    1000 Comments Second Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    I am sorry you're going through this tough time right now. I don't really have words, but I'm thinking about you and praying for you. I think you've gotten a lot of good advice from the other ladies, though.
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  • edited December 2011

    My FI and I just got engaged yesterday. We have not had sexual intercourse, but we have definitely crossed the line way further than we ever intended. We've both felt convicted in the past and vowed to stop doing those things, but as soon as we had another chance, we went back to our old habits. Now that we are engaged, we had a really good prayer today. He and I both actually started crying during the prayer and confessed that we had gone too far and wanted to stop. We're in a tough place b/c we are "technically" both still virgins, but we've basically had sex, just without penetration. So . . . OP, I can relate to what you're going through. It isn't easy, but this time, we are committed to keeping our relationship pure for real. Now that we're engaged, we realize just how important this is and we need to protect what we have together.  I think the key is that he and I both continue to pray about this and not make excuses (like "we're not having sex, so it's ok to make out heavily" etc). It's a tough road, but we know God will honor our committment. I pray that you and your FI are able to stay pure and I hope you pray for us too!

  • edited December 2011
     I commend you for doing what you feel in your heart is right... To ease your fears some we were using the tempature method... and we both knew the risks... which is why after the intinitional shock... We are both very excited!!! But as long as you were using protection of some kind you should have less to worry about... Laughing
  • kipnuskipnus member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    Wow, thanks so much for all of the thoughtful replies! I'm also glad that not everyone is giving identical advice. It's good to get some different perspectives. 

    diehld, I am sure you and your FI and going to be awesome parents! I hope I didn't unintentionally put you down in my comments--pregnancy is just not for me! Thanks for the encouragement!

    I am on the pill, but I am not a very good pill-taker (like I definitely don't take it at the same time every day). We've been using condoms, but some months ago, one broke, and I had missed a couple days of pills, so freaked out a little and took Plan B. A couple weeks ago, we had another broken condom, and I didn't do anything about it, because I had been taking my pill, but of course now I second-guess myself--like, did I miss any that week? Ugh.

    Anyway, I feel peace about our decision to stop having sex until we're married--it will just be super tough. We will definitely need to hash out new boundaries, but it is encouraging to know that others have been able to stick to them, even after having gone all the way. 

    I knew I could count on this group for some good support and advice and I haven't been disappointed! Thank you!!! 
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