Close

How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Languages

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

More

Events

Whether you're interested in conferences or local gatherings, there's an opportunity for you. Explore upcoming events and find your place to serve and grow.

Mission Trips

Explore domestic and global mission trips with Cru—serve, grow, and make an eternal impact. Opportunities for students, families, and professionals.

Internships

Explore Cru's internship opportunities—serve globally or locally, develop your skills, and make an eternal impact. Apply today!

Careers

Explore full- and part-time ministry careers with Cru—use your skills to impact eternity. Apply today!

Volunteer

Explore volunteer opportunities with Cru and use your skills to impact lives for eternity.

International

Explore global mission opportunities with Cru—serve, grow, and make an eternal impact.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Statement of Faith

What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Values

Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

Contact Us

mailto:Donation.Services@cru.org

A Familiar Cycle

Mary May Larmoyeux September 9, 2016

He Had Two Affairs in 18 Months

  1. A Familiar Cycle
  2. New Arguments
  3. The Marriage Conference
  4. “God Had a Bigger Purpose”

David Scott pulled his car over to the side in the middle of the bridge.

He came to a rolling stop. Can I do it? he wondered. Can I jump?

Consumed by lust, he was cheating on his bride of less than 18 months. He was having an affair with a woman he hardly knew. He was also spending time with people who were dabbling with drugs and alcohol.

As he sat two feet from the railing of the bridge connecting sister cities, haunting thoughts ricocheted back and forth in his head:

Nobody will take you back. Your parents will never accept you again. Look at how you've shamed them. Kim's dad trusted you when he gave her away on your wedding day. How can you face Kim, knowing the poor decisions you've made?

Was there any way of escape? He looked at the swirling water below and wished that he could just end it all.

He believed in God but thought, Nothing can save me.

He had every intention of taking his life that night, but he just couldn't do it.

David turned the ignition key and made the painful drive home, knowing that he would have to tell Kim the truth.

When Kim and David were married, she expected a marriage like the one her parents had. Her mom and dad were best friends. They talked respectfully to each other when they disagreed. Because of her parents' devotion to one another, she assumed that marriage would be easy. And David and she had even gone through premarital counseling with the pastor before they married.

David didn't have any expectations when he married Kim. He just wanted it to last longer than his parents' marriage did – seven years.

The relationship quickly began to follow a familiar cycle. They would enjoy great communication and intimacy, and then they would have an argument.

"We would give each other the silent treatment," David says, "and it would last for days ... and sometimes weeks." Over and over again David replayed words Kim had uttered in anger.

Kim, who was going to college, thought that her young marriage to David was typical. Sure, they had some communication problems, but they went to church together and both professed to be Christians.

Soon after his near-suicide attempt, David returned home one evening and announced he was going to leave. "I told Kim that I didn't want to have anything to do with her or our marriage," he says. "I just really wanted to end it. I wanted to be in this other relationship."

"I was crying and in shock," Kim says.

David moved out and the next time Kim saw him was when they met at the courthouse to file the divorce papers. They discovered a paper was missing, and they didn't file for divorce that day. And then, instead of continuing with the divorce proceedings, David started visiting his wife at the apartment. "We talked a lot," Kim says, "and he shared more of what he was feeling."

David ended the affair. Kim forgave him. They gave their marriage another try.

Click the Next button below to read on for Part 2.

Next