Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camps
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Share on Social
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2022 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

‘Til Prison Do Us Part? How to Maintain a Marriage During Incarceration

February 14, 2017 by Prison Fellowship

The following post was adapted from an article published in the Winter 2013 edition of Inside Journal. Inside Journal is a quarterly newspaper published by Prison Fellowship® just for prisoners. 

Til Prison Do Us Part? How to Maintain a Marriage During Incarceration - marriage resourceNothing is harder on a marriage than incarceration. Under the weight of distance, shame, financial hardship, and mutual misunderstanding, even unions that seemed strong can fall apart.

A New York Times article estimates that "between a married man's arrest and the end of his first year in prison, 80 percent of marriages break up … For female inmates, the divorce rate is closer to 100 percent."

Even if your marriage survives a prison sentence, you're not out of the woods after the release date.

HOW TO MAINTAIN A MARRIAGE DURING INCARCERATION

If you are facing a prison sentence, or if your spouse is incarcerated, and you are still married, you've got an uphill battle to fight.

However, you and your family can still succeed with a lot of faith, love, and hard work. Here are some tips to help you maintain your marriage during this prison sentence—and lay a firm foundation for the future:

USE TIME APART TO GROW FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Use this time of separation from your spouse to take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Study the Bible and learn what it says about Jesus Christ’s purpose for your life. You can be the greatest asset to your spouse and your family if you are in the processing of becoming a new man or a new woman.*

Look inside yourself to ask some hard questions: How has your lifestyle hurt your spouse? Have you told them you are sorry? Are you ready to change?

If you're in prison, connect with Prison Fellowship or other programs available to support and encourage you during your sentence. If you're waiting on the outside for your incarcerated spouse, reach out to a church in your local community. Find strong people who can be a shoulder to lean on during this time.

* If you're not sure where you stand with God, it's never too late to start a relationship with Him. He is eager to accept you. See our page "What It Means to Be a Christian" for more information.

LET YOUR SPOUSE KNOW THEY ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITY

Maintain an interest in your spouse and family. Let them know not only that you miss them, but that you care for them. Pray for them every day.

If your spouse is incarcerated, write your spouse letters. Visit your spouse in prison if you can. Be open with your children about where your spouse is and why, but also on why you haven't given up on them yet.

If your spouse is waiting for you on the outside, write letters. Make phone calls. If you have a job, send money or buy gifts.

If you have children, sign them up for Angel Tree® so that at Christmas they can receive gifts from you.

MOVE FORWARD, NOT BACK

Does your spouse have a substance abuse or alcohol problem? Do you?

You need to have a healthy relationship. If you have been clean during this time apart, don't allow your home to become a place where drugs and alcohol are readily available.

The very best thing you can do for your spouse and your family is to keep away from overwhelming temptation and let them see you living a new life. If you've struggled with addiction in the past, your recovery has to come first. It will be hard, but if you are Christian, you can know that in Christ all things are possible.* Let things come together in God's time.

Seek out counselors who can help you and your spouse become better partners and better parents.

*Matthew 19:26; Philippians 4:13

 

SIMILAR STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Pelipost—How a Mobile App is Helping Families Stay Connected
Joe saw a need for prisoners and their families, so he made an app to help them.

Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
Find resources on coping with incarceration, helping kids with incarceration, and reentry.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, Inside Journal Tagged With: How To, Marriage, Reentry, Valentines Day

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

Prison Fellowship Responds to Inaction on Crack Cocaine Sentencing at Close of the 117th Congress

December 20, 2022

Criminal Justice Reform Achievements

December 16, 2022

Prison Fellowship Applauds Congressional Lawmakers for Passage of Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act

December 15, 2022

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree Program
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • For Media Outlets

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2023 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports ClinicTM, Angel Tree Sports CampsTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.