Dr. Juli Slattery never anticipated that her marriage would suffer from sexual issues. She grew up in a loving Christian home, became a Christian as a young child, attended Christian schools, and became a psychologist with deep spiritual values. Despite all of her biblical and therapeutic training, however, she and her husband still encountered sexual challenges.
She isn’t alone. Many couples who contact Focus on the Family feel ill-equipped to navigate sexuality from a biblical perspective or to pass along those values to their children. That uncertainty causes some people to avoid the issue entirely, a strategy Dr. Slattery does not recommend.
“Sex will never be a neutral issue in your marriage,” she says. “It will either draw you together or tear you apart. Nor will sex ever be a neutral issue in your relationship with God. It’s either going to reveal God’s goodness or become barrier.”
Dr. Slattery is joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to help you and your spouse better understand how to talk about and grow in your God-given sexuality.
The first step is to understand how culture has warped our understanding of sexuality. To move past the shame and silence that often surrounds this topic and redeem our sexuality, we must examine how modern narratives have distorted reality and re-center ourselves in God’s truth.
We broke our conversation down into several helpful topics, including:
- Cultural sexuality.
- Surrendered sexuality.
- Sexual purity vs. sexual integrity.
- Sexual identity.
- Healing from sexual sin.
- Singles and sexuality.
- Surrender to love.
Along the way, Dr. Slattery and I will help you and your spouse push past the barriers that inhibit your relationship and discover how to live out God’s sacred design for sexuality in your lives.
This program isn’t graphic, but it’s probably not suitable for younger children, so please use your discretion and occupy your kids elsewhere, or listen later on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.
While you’re here, why not take a few moments to try our free Marriage Assessment online tool? It will help you quickly determine what’s working well in your relationship and identify areas where you may need some improvement.
If sex has caused division in your marriage instead of unity, know that we have caring, Christian counselors who will listen, pray with you, and get you on a path toward healing and hope. They’ll also direct you to additional resources in your area if necessary. Call us, leave your name and number, and we’ll get back with you as soon as possible. The number during business hours is 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
Before I close, I’d like to extend an invitation for you to become a special partner with us through our monthly “Friends of Focus on the Family” program. When you do, I’ll send you a copy of Dr. Slattery’s book Surrendered Sexuality: Knowing Jesus Changes … Everything as a way of saying thank you for touching others with the love of Christ. You’ll also receive member-exclusive benefits. To make your pledge, or for more information, click here or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
Dr. Juli Slattery is the president and cofounder of Authentic Intimacy, a ministry devoted to reclaiming God’s design for sexuality.
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