You Can Encourage Your Husband

Dear Dr. Stephens,
My husband was laid off from his job about a year ago.  Before this happened, we used to have fun going out to dinner with friends and co-workers. However, after he lost his job, he stopped wanting to do anything.  He just sits in the house, sleeps, and watches TV. He won’t even talk to his friends when they call him on the phone. I don’t know what’s happening to him. Can you help me understand what’s wrong with him before it destroys our marriage?                                                                  Stressed Out Wife

Dear Stressed Out Wife,
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Because so many people in our society see their job as a status symbol, social interaction can be very difficult for a man without a job. He may even believe that any invitations he receives to attend social events are offered out of courtesy, instead of a genuine desire for his attendance. This could be the case with your husband, especially since you said he was much more sociable before he lost his job. To help your husband get through this crisis, seek opportunities to affirm him.  If he succeeded against seemingly insurmountable odds in the past, this may be the ideal time to remind him about it. Let your husband know you still have confidence in him and in his ability to succeed at the things he commits himself to.  Words of affirmation like these can help boost your husband’s confidence and rekindle his desire to succeed again. As he begins to focus his thoughts on past victories instead of past failures, he may be inspired to optimistically forge ahead and take control of his life and career again.
Verses to Remember
(Proverbs 25:11) A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
(Proverbs 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue... 

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Dr. David Stephens has authored 8 books on love and marriage. Since 1994 he has conducted relationship seminars and served as a coach to couples & singles who desire marriage success. In 2016, he launched the Marriage Success Podcast. He has been happily married to his wife, Angela, since 1988.